Looking after your mental health

Our Head of Engagement for high street solicitors Katie McKenna recounts her journey in developing the Society’s mental health resource Lawscot Wellbeing on World Mental Health Day.

As a new start at the Law Society early on this year it was fairly daunting to be asked to create a brand new resource for members to help improve wellbeing within the profession.

I’m not a mental health expert by any stretch of the imagination, but with one in five solicitors likely to be affected by a mental health issue at some point during their careers it’s an issue that should be taken very seriously.

To develop my own understanding, I undertook a programme of meetings with the leading lights in the area to inform our thoughts on how to best support our members, including the NHS, SAMH, SeeMe, The Mental Health Foundation and LawCare. I also looked to the profession to see what was already happening to improve mental health within the legal sector.

A flurry of inspiration, a chunk of research and even more writing followed and Lawscot Wellbeing  was born.

We launched our new resource on 14 May during Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 at event hosted by Peter Lawson Chairman of Burness Paull alongside Kenny Robertson, Head of Legal at RBS, and Calum Irving, CEO of SeeMe. It was great to see so many of the profession in attendance with enthusiasm to change the status quo.

I think one of the issues that powers the stigma surrounding mental health is a lack of confidence or awareness of how to start a conversation on the topic. That’s why one of the personal highlights of my work on improving wellbeing in the profession is becoming a Mental Health First Aider.

Following the intensive two day course, I now have the confidence to ask anyone about how they are really feeling and ask about suicide if appropriate. The key learning provided during the course should be available to everyone in Scotland who manages people - line managers play a crucial role in spotting signs and issues amongst their team.

I won’t lie, the process has been stressful at times, but I have learned so much about the importance of maintaining my own mental health and definitely could not have completed the website and hosted the launch without the support of a good team.

We have marked World Mental Health Day and I would urge all our members to take a moment to assess how they are feeling and look at the resources available with a view to improving their own mental health.

For senior partners and those in a position to change the culture within their firm or business, please look at how you can look after your staff.

And finally, if you are worried about someone do not be afraid to ask if they are ok.