Law Week Mental Health Focus

The Law Society of Western Australia has launched a comprehensive report on the prevalence of mental health and wellbeing issues in the WA legal profession at a breakfast event this morning to mark the commencement of Law Week 2011.

The Report on Psychological Distress and Depression in the Legal Profession was commissioned by the Society following the increasing trend of WA legal practitioners suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety, stress and depression in their lives.

The Report, authored by Society Senior Vice President and Barrister Dr Christopher Kendall, features 29 recommendations to support the mental health and wellbeing of legal practitioners in Western Australia, including a comprehensive and free counselling support service, LawCare (WA), which was also announced today and is available to the Society’s members and employees.

“The Society places a great deal of importance in the wellbeing of our members and we have taken appropriate measures to effectively support those members who may be suffering from psychological distress and depression,” says Society President Hylton Quail.

“While working in the law can be a very rewarding profession, it is also incredibly demanding and this can place undue pressure on practitioners who are working in a competitive, high pressure and perfectionist environment.

“The strategies we are implementing as a result of this highly detailed and researched Report will provide ongoing support for our members and emphasises the importance of this issue amongst the WA legal profession.”

Law Week runs from 16 to 20 May and features a range of free events across Perth and regional centres for the general public and the legal profession. The full programme of events is available at www.lawsocietywa.asn.au

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For comment and further information please contact:

Zoe Cornish
Media and Communications Officer
0404 806 940
(08) 9324 8602
zcornish@lawsocietywa.asn.au