1. Mental Health Matters Elizabeth Rimmer CEO LawCare
IP Inclusive Webinar
December

2. Overview What is mental health The legal workplace
Stress and tips for management
Maintaining wellbeing
About LawCare and the support we provide

3. What is Mental Health? WHO defines mental health as:
‘a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and can make a contribution to his or her community’

4. Angus Lyon: lawyer & published author
Lawyers use their minds continually, exercising their brains to find innovative solutions to client problems, anticipating potential pitfalls and developments in course of a matter and in managing/prioritising caseloads. The need to think about and care for our minds and be more aware of the minds of others must be of prime concern.
A Lawyers’ Guide to Wellbeing and Managing Stress

5. Why do Mental Health and Wellbeing in the workplace matter?
Individual
Employer
Wider Legal Community
There are 5 simple steps we can all take to improve our wellbeing
Connect – connect with the people around you, your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, its important to spend time developing these relationships
Be active- this doesn’t mean going to the gym – go for walk, cycle, play football, find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your life
Keep learning – learning new skills can boost confidence
Give to others – even small acts such as a kind word or a thank you count, larger acts such as volunteering can improve your wellbeing
Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you, ‘mindfulness’ can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
But why does wellbeing matter in a professional context? There are many benefits – greater self esteem, optimism, resilience, vitality, self determination, positive relationships with colleagues, better physical and mental health, greater motivation, creativity and more productive work.
From an employer’s perspective actively improving wellbeing, may help to attract a talented and diverse range of students to enter the legal profession, help with staff retention, reduce sick days, increase productivity and give an edge over competitors. For the wider legal community improving wellbeing will help maintain the professional reputation of lawyers and advance the administration of justice.

6. The Legal Workplace Competitive Pressured Long hours culture
Managing expectations

7. Culture and Practice Negative emotions Prudence Reactive Replaying
Perfectionist approach
Self sufficient
No emotional vocabulary
Type A personality

8. So what can this lead to? Stress and mental health issues
Not all stress is bad
Can be difficult to talk about it and seek help

9. The Six Rs for looking after yourself
Responsibility
Reflection
Relaxation
Relationships
Refuelling
Recreation

10. Sleep: are you getting enough?
After waking up in the morning could you fall back asleep at 10 or 11am?
Can you function optimally without caffeine before noon?

11. Five Steps to Improve Wellbeing

12. What is LawCare?
The charity that promotes and supports good mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession
Established in 1997
Funded by, but independent of, professional bodies
Covers the UK and Ireland
All branches of the legal profession

13. Our Vision and Goals Vision
A legal community that values, promotes and supports good mental health and wellbeing 
Four goals
Support
Information
Raising Awareness
Tackling Stigma

14. Support
Our support spans the whole of legal life, from student to training through to practice and retirement
We can help those concerned about themselves, a colleague, friend, or family member
We understand life in the law

15. Support – Helpline Free, independent, confidential Discuss concerns
Listen without judgment, with empathy
Trained staff / volunteers have worked in the law
Signposting
Peer support
365 days a year

16. Volunteer training Dublin

17. Who Calls Us?

18. Reason for Call

19. Raising Awareness – let’s get the legal community talking
How to look after yourself
Recognising the signs
Asking ‘are you ok?’
Where to find help
Across the community

20. Information Website www.lawcare.org.uk Factsheets
Top ten tips for wellbeing
Tips for looking after others
LawCare News
Resources
Case studies / blogs

21. Tackling stigma It’s ok to ask for help Sharing lived experiences
Culture shift
Wellbeing on the agenda

22. What will you do next? What thoughts do you have?
What changes could you make?
What is the one thing you are going to do to help you work well and stay well?

23. Join the Conversation