LawCare sees big rise in stress related calls for help

A big rise in the number of legal professionals seeking support due to stress related mental health issues has been reported by LawCare.

The charity, which runs a support helpline for the profession, has been a 24% increase in the number of people contacting it for support in 2023 up to the end of August.

The news comes ahead of World Mental Health Day (10 October), when LawCare will launch new guidance for employers on protecting mental health in legal workplaces.  

LawCare said many professionals are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and these mental health concerns can be exacerbated or caused by their work environment.

Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare commented: "The tendency in legal workplaces is to respond to colleagues with work related mental health concerns once a problem has arisen. The goal should be to prevent these developing in the first place. Workplaces need to move from a support based approach to mental health to a risk based approach. 

"The legal workplace is characterised by inherent psychosocial risks to mental health – working long hours, poor work-life balance, meeting the expectations of demanding clients, heavy caseloads, the pressure of deadlines and billing targets, whilst maintaining high standards of ethical and professional conduct. Employers need to accept there are risks to mental health in the accepted working practices in law and take steps to mitigate, modify or remove these risks. Employers should focus on how the workplace can protect the mental health of their people, not undermine it."

Find LawCare's page on protecting mental health at work here. Its helpline is on 0800 279 6888, and its website has online chat and other resources.