LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
AUGUST 2019 15
in the conversation.
It is through telling stories of lived ex-
perience and allowing room for an open
exchange of information and ideas that we
normalize mental illness. We can show
that living with mental health issues does
not mean living a lesser life. It also allows
people to get the help we need.
Senior lawyers living with mental ill-
ness who are successfully managing their
conditions and feel secure in their jobs
can demonstrate leadership if they dis-
close their mental illness to people they see
struggling."To keep quiet while knowing
the pain and suffering endured by others in
our profession means isolation and stigma
will continue. By disclosing, we can vastly
improve the lives of other lawyers living
with mental illness. It can start by simply
tapping the shoulder of a colleague who
appears to be struggling. Reaching out can
be deeply beneficial to that colleague and
intensely satisfying for ourselves.
For me, disclosing my mental illness was
the best thing I could do for my career and
for personal fulfillment. Surrounded by
supportive friends, family and colleagues,
I've been able to develop the courage and
strength to make a contribution to people
living with mental illness.
Further, we need senior lawyers to
speak publicly both within our offices and
to wider audiences. ere are an increas-
ing number of counsel who are publishing
articles and making presentations to large
groups of people which is inspiring. But
we need more people to speak out in or-
der to create a critical mass. e impact of
stigma surrounding mental illness will not
be reduced until isolation ends. Together
we can reach out and give hope to lawyers
(and others) who are struggling with men-
tal health issues to know that they too can
have good outcomes if they get the help
they need. We are poised to blow apart
stigma surrounding mental illness within
our profession and beyond.
e time to share is now.
COVER STORY FEATURES
[i]
https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-
health-statistics citing Smentanin et al. (2011). e life and economic
impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for
the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto: Risk Analytica
[ii]
It found that lawyers live with almost four times the level of depres-
sion (28%) and anxiety (19%) over the general population. Also,
between 21% and 36% of lawyers are considered to be problem drink-
ers.
[ii]
P.R. Krill, R. Johnson, & L. Albert, e Prevalance of Substance
Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys,
10 J. ADDICTION MED. 46 (2016) referred to in American Bar
Association National Association Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
August 14, 2017
[iii]
Canadian Mental Health Association https://ridedonthide.com
[iv]
I am a perfectionist burdened with many imperfections and that
has caused me no end of angst, especially at the office.
[iv]
American
Bar Association National Association Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
August 14, 2017
[v]
Globe and Mail, May 14, 2019, " Supreme Court Justice Gascon
releases a statement on his health aer his disappearance" https://www.
theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-supreme-court-justice-gascon-
releases-statement-on-his-health-aer
[vi]
National Post May 14, 2019, "Clement Gascon, high court justice
who went missing, says he had panic attack" https://nationalpost.com/
news/canada/newsalert-clement-gascon-high-court-justice-who-went-
missing-had-panic-attack
[vii]
National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being : Creating a Movement
To Improve Well-Being in the Legal Procession (August 14, 2017) at
pg. 12 citing P.Ws. Corrigan, S. B. Morris, P. J. Michaels, J. D. Rafacz,
& N. Rusch, Challenging the Public Stigma of Mental Illness: a Meta-
Analysis of Outcome Studies, 63 Psychiatric Serv. 963 (2012)
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