Florida Bar Leadership Academy Class IV Mental Health Toolkit
Mental health is vital for overall well-being and affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Positive mental health enables individuals to realize their potential, cope with stress, and contribute productively to their communities. Unfortunately, lawyers face significantly higher rates of substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety, emphasizing the importance of investing in mental health awareness and support within the legal profession.
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Florida Bar Leadership Academy Class IV Mental Health Toolkit
What is Mental Health? A person s condition with regard to their psychological, emotional and socialwell-being. A person s mental health affects how they: Think Feel Act A person s mental health determines how they: Handle stress Relate to others Make choices
Why Mental Health? A person with positive mental health can: Realize his/her own potential Cope with normal stresses of life Work productively and fruitfully Make a contribution to his/her community Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is A state of complete physical, mental and social-well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity . Mental and substance abuse disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Why Mental Health? Lawyers and law students suffer from chemical and mental illness at significantly higher rates than the rest of the population. A recent study directed specifically at lawyers showed that more than 20% of lawyers met criteria for substance use disorder and the rates of depression and anxiety were 29% and 19%, respectively. Practicing lawyers exhibit clinical anxiety, hostility, and depression at rates that range from 8 to 15 times the general population. Out of 104 occupational groups, lawyers rank the highest in depression. Lawyers rank 5th in incidence of suicide
Why Invest In Mental Health? Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. 43.8 million, or 18.5% experiencesmentalillness in a given year. The chances of impaired mental health affecting you, a loved one, someone you know or someone you work with are significant. Roughly 15 percent of Florida Bar members will develop a problem with alcohol or drugs during their career. That translates to almost 10,000 lawyers at risk. As lawyers, investing in our own mental health, and those of our colleagues is not only a moral issue, but also an ethical matter.
Understanding Mental Illness Mental illness is not a sign of weakness or a lack of will power. Studies have found that certain key chemical regulators in the brain called neurotransmitters are responsible for both mental illness symptoms and physical symptoms such as pain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for sending messages between nerve cells in the brain. Mental illness can occur when regulation of certain key neurotransmitters is impaired. Similar to other chronic medical conditions (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, asthma), mental illness can range in severity and duration.
Risk Factors Substance Abuse Alcohol Street Drugs Prescription Drugs Gambling Other Addictions Stress Burnout / Fatigue Anxiety Compulsive Behaviors
Prevention Stress Release Time Management Yoga Meditation Work Disconnect Social Connection
Prevention The Law Firms Role Law firms, public interest organizations and other legal employers play an integral role in helping reduce the stigma that often accompanies mental illness. Legal organizations can support their employees who may become affected by mental illness by: Offering Employee Assistance Programs Making employees aware of the mental health support services provided by Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. Establishing a comprehensive Mental Health and/or Drug or Substance Abuse Prevention Policy Implement general workplace wellbeing strategy focusing on social interaction in the workplace
Prevention The Colleagues Role More than half of the grievances filed against attorneys have addiction or some other form of mental disorder as a significant contributing factor. The American Bar Association s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility addresses lawyer s ethical responsibilities in addressing workplace mental illness in Formal Opinion 03-429: Obligations with Respect to Mentally Impaired Lawyers in the Firm . Law partners or supervising lawyers must take steps to prevent misconduct by an impaired lawyer. Reasonable efforts to protect the interest of clients must be taken. Other lawyers in the firm may have an obligation to report any rule violation to the appropriate professional authority. The lawyer s impairment isn t reported, but rather the rule violation.
Prevention The Colleagues Role In our society, professionals tend to work through illnesses, whether physical or mental in nature. Lawyers are no different. If you suspect a colleague is suffering from mental illness: Make observations about how your work is being impacted and let the person respond Listen in a nonjudgmental way Get support from others if you feel the person is in danger or if you feel your job is at risk Jump to conclusions it s not always a mental health issue Push your colleague to share personal details Become the person s de facto therapist; point the person to professional help DO DON T Become familiar with your firm s policy on mental illness and procedure for reporting issues that may be affecting the workplace or work product.
Prevention The Colleagues Role Finding the Right Words What Not to say: Try Instead: "How's your health?" "How can we help you do your job?" You seem depressed. You re not your usual self. "Snap out of it." "Do you want to talk about it?" "Think positive." "It's always OK to ask for help." "I know exactly what you're going through." It s hard for me to understand exactly what you re going through, but I can see that it s distressing for you.
Reducing Stigma Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, descriptions, language or behavior that can translate into disrespectful, unfair, or discriminatory patterns in how we think, feel, talk and behave. towards individuals experiencing a mental illness
Reducing Stigma Reduce stigma in your workplace and beyond Talk openly about mental health Educate yourself and others about mental health Be conscious of your language Encourage equality in how people perceive physical illness and mental illness Show empathy and compassion for those living with a mental health condition See the person, not the illness Advocate for mental health awareness and employee assistance programs in your workplace
Getting Help CONFIDENTIALhelp is available through Florida Lawyer s Assistance Program Non-profit organization Mandated by Florida Supreme Court Judges, attorneys, law students, and support personnel who seek assistance from Florida Lawyer s Assistance Program can do so without fear that they will be reported to the Florida Bar, Bar Examiners, or their employer. http://fla-lap.org/ Also see: Mental Health Resource Center - www.mhrcflorida.com National Alliance on Mental Illness of Florida - www.namifl.org
