Research has revealed that the legal profession suffers from a high incidence of psychological health concerns.
We created the Workplace Wellbeing Guidelines to enable workplaces to create psychologically healthy environments for employees.
- 33% of lawyers and 20% of barristers suffer disability and distress due to depression; they do not seek help and often self-medicate with alcohol.
- Alcohol abuse in legal profession is extremely concerning.
- High rate of suicide and suicidal ideation among lawyers.
- Law students and young lawyers most vulnerable.
- 80% of disciplinary matters involving lawyers have an underlying mental health issue.
Implementation of the guidelines creates a supportive workplace and healthy employees who are:
- More productive, efficient and make better decisions.
- Make fewer errors.
- Engage in discretionary and pro-social behaviour. Less bullying, harassment.
- Reduce costs- less turnover, recruitment, insurance premiums, stress leave, claims.
- Retain corporate knowledge, expertise and experience.
- Reduce stress to managers.
- Have new ideas.
- Able to adapt to changes.
- The key to innovation.
Evidence
- Lawyers identified a set of avoidable workplace stressors
Kelk N. Luscombe G. Medlow S. Hickie I. (2009) Courting the Blues: Attitudes towards depression in Australian law students and lawyers
http://www.cald.asn.au/docs/Law%20Report%20Website%20version%204%20May%2009.pdf - Workplace stress can be reduced but requires primary, secondary and tertiary interventions to be implemented together: prevention, addressing symptoms and accessing treatment.
LaMontagne A. and Keegel T. (2012) Reducing Stress in the Workplace
http://www.iepcp.org.au/sites/default/files/6.%20Reducing%20stress%20in%20the%20workplace.pdf - Workplace culture and 13 workplace factors impact psychological safety
Shain M. (2011) the Road to Psychological Safety : Legal, scientific and social foundations for a national standard for psychological safety in the workplace
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Workforce_2011/T he_Road_to_Psychological_Safety.pdf - These factors are basic human needs that when unmet can become risk factors for psychological distress
Vezina M. (2013) Meeting fundamental human needs is vital to promote psychological health in the workplace
http://www.qualaxia.org/download/pub/Quintessence-V05N01-en.pdf