LawCare to pilot webchat service for online users

Legal mental health charity LawCare is to pilot a new webchat service from 1 July 2019.

Announced to mark the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK (13-19 May), the service will offer an alternative to LawCare's free confidential helpline for legal professionals and staff for individuals needing support. 

The charity received its highest ever number of helpline calls in 2018. However CEO Elizabeth Rimmer said it still wanted to expand its service. She explained: “We are very excited to be launching webchat in July. More and more people in the legal community are reaching out to us for support every year so it is vital we expand our support service. We also know that many young people are more likely to seek help online than pick up the phone. Our webchat service will allow anyone working in the legal profession to contact one of our trained team members online for emotional support on any issue that is troubling them.”

LawCare works to raise awareness of wellbeing issues across the legal community and tackles stigma surrounding mental health. The charity also offers training and talks to legal organisations, and information, resources and factsheets.

Welcoming the initiative, Richard Pugh, clerk of the Faculty of Advocates, commented: “Working in the legal profession can be stressful. It is incumbent on all members of the profession to recognise, both in ourselves and others, the potential impact on our mental health.

“LawCare provides a vital service for members of the profession to obtain support and advice. Having a convenient, secure webchat service from July will provide an excellent resource for anyone in need of assistance.”

Webchat will be available from July 1 at www.lawcare.org.uk or www.lawcare.ie. The helpline is 0800 279 6888 in the UK and 1800 991 801 in Ireland.