10 LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
AUGUST 2019
Hypocrite,
Heretic
or Heroine?
In 2002, Beth Beattie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. e stereotype of
people living with bipolar disorder is that they are inherently unstable and unreliable.
Beth did not want to be thought of in those terms as a lawyer. As a result of stigma,
both societal and self-imposed, she did not share her story outside her family and closest
friends for 14 years.
Since 2004 Beth has been counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General Civil Law
Division, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care Branch. Beth has a
broad-based litigation practice and has expertise in the areas of Coroner's inquests, hu-
man rights, forensic and civil mental health, OHIP eligibility and long-term care home
compliance. Beth has a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in alternative
dispute resolution.
In 2017 Beth disclosed her illness to colleagues. She quickly began speaking publicly
on the topic of living and working with mental illness. Beth has made presentations to
thousands of people, primarily lawyers in the public and private sectors. She has also
made presentations to schools, corporations and at various levels of the Ontario govern-
ment as well as the British Columbia Prosecution Service.
Since January 2018 Beth has been a friend of the Bell Let's Talk campaign. Her story
has been featured on television, radio, print media and billboards across the country.
Beth is a founding member of the Mental Health Illuminati, a group of lawyers with
lived mental health experience, which provides programming in the Ministry of the
Attorney General and beyond
WHY I BELIEVE
SENIOR
LAWYERS
SHOULD
DISCLOSE
THEIR MENTAL
ILLNESSES
AT WORK
BY BETH BEATTIE
The commentary in this article is based on the author's experience and does not necessarily
represent the views of the Ministry of the Attorney General or the Government of Ontario.
