Society-LawCare venture set to tackle lawyers' mental health issues

A new initiative to promote mental health and wellbeing in the Scottish legal community launches this week.

Legal Wellbeing Scotland brings together representatives from a range of legal professional and educational establishments to raise awareness of mental health issues as they affect legal practitioners and promote best practice solutions.

The idea follows a recent survey by the Scottish Young Lawyers' Association (SYLA), which found that stress is the biggest single issue affecting its 2,000 members. Taken forward by the Law Society of Scotland and lawyers' supoport charity LawCare, it follows a similar initiative recently launched in England & Wales.

To date, 21 partners have joined the group. In addition to the Society, LawCare and SYLA, they comprise the Scottish Law Agents Society, Trainee & Newly Qualified Society Scotland, Edinburgh University Counselling Services, Faculty of Advocates, Judicial Office for Scotland, Society of Law Accountants in Scotland, Scottish Paralegal Association and the FDA Procurators Fiscal section, along with legal firms Burness Paull, Pinsent Masons, Adams Law Blairgowrie, Grieve Grierson Moodie & Walker, Jack Grant & Co, Hamilton Ross Solicitors, Brodies Solicitors, and other employers Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, Midlothian Council and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The group will identify areas where collaboration will be beneficial; identify mechanisms for establishing and sharing best practice; identify how to improve the perception of mental health and wellbeing; and address stigma as a barrier to accessing support.

“Law can be very demanding, and we know that one in five solicitors will experience a mental health issue at least once in their career,” explained Eilidh Wiseman, President of the Law Society of Scotland.

“This initiative provides a welcome opportunity to work collaboratively with experts from across the legal sector, as well as encourage individual organisations to explore what they can do within their own establishments.”

Trish McLellan, LawCare's coordinator for Scotland and Northern Ireland added: “LawCare has identified that there is very low awareness of the support and services available to those in the legal community, and that there is stigma attached to acknowledging mental health issues. There is also a lack of knowledge in the community itself about good practice in supporting people with mental health issues and what that looks like.

“We also need to consider how those in need of support can find it and trust it but, overall, we’re keen to develop tangible actions and solutions.”

Click here for the LawCare Legal Wellbeing Scotland page.