Thursday, 10 September 2020 is R U OK? Day, a national day of action to inspire and empower people to connect with others and have conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
The COVID-19 pandemic created an environment of profound change for all of us, in our work and every day lives. The impact of the pandemic has been far reaching, affecting the legal profession and many other businesses significantly.
Legal firms and their staff have faced unprecedented challenges and have had to balance the delivering of services with health and safety. Many adapted swiftly to an online mode of service delivery and working remotely.
Never has it been more important to be mindful of mental health and wellbeing, as we journey through an ever-changing landscape of social distancing and virtual engagement. Thankfully, there is plenty of support and resources available to help deal with change. For example, valuable strategies for mindfulness and stress management can be explored in the Law Society’s Continuing Professional Development programme or by visiting our website.
The Law Society brings together a strong community of supportive professionals who you can reach out to. We also maintain a LawCare WA health and wellbeing service for members, which includes an assistance programme and free counselling sessions.
R U OK? Day is a timely reminder of the importance of health and wellbeing and an opportunity to reach out to colleagues, friends and family.
Nicholas van Hattem, President, The Law Society of Western Australia
