Mental Health Month

The calendar has turned to May, which means it is Mental Health Month. While pushing back against the stigma surrounding mental illness in the legal community is something that should matter every day, week, and month of the year, Mental Health Month is a chance to specifically highlight the work that some in the field have been doing, while engaging others in the conversation for the first time.

We fully admit that there are still those in the legal community who might be hesitant about engaging in these conversations. Yet they need to be happening. We cannot continue to ignore the problems plaguing our profession.

If your firm or office is interested in this but don’t know where to start, you can try highlighting your state’s Legal Assistance Program, or the work of non-profits like The LegalMind Society, The Lawyer’s Depression Project, The Institute for Wellness in Law, and others. You can also contact those organizations about ways to be more involved, such as sponsoring an event or making an institutional donation.

You can also recognize the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month by re-examining your own practice as it relates to having alcohol at office events, billable hours requirements, and work-life balance as a whole.

We are excited this month to work on bringing you new updates about the wellness in the legal profession, new ways that you can get involved, and more. We hope you’ll come along for the ride.