Thursday, 8 September 2022
Today is R U OK? Day. It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.
Mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession is an issue of critical importance. While lawyers carry out vitally important work on a daily basis, the pressures associated with that work can sometimes have a negative effect on their mental health and wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that maintaining boundaries between work and non-work life remains one of the biggest challenges, together with the pressures of billable hours and achieving KPIs, which may lead to fatigue, disrupted sleep and chronic stress.
R U OK? Day is set in the season of First Spring – Djilba, traditionally a time of new beginning, of hope and optimism. So I encourage you to reach out to others and be the change. There are effective strategies for mindfulness and stress management that can be explored in the Law Society’s Continuing Professional Development programme – visit our website here: https://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au/cpd-seminars/
We also maintain a LawCare WA health and wellbeing service for members, which includes an assistance programme and free counselling sessions. Find out more here: https://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au/lawcare-wa/
Rebecca Lee, President of the Law Society of Western Australia
