Mental health risks may not immediately come to mind. However, increased awareness of the mental health impacts of unsafe work practices over the past decade, together with the prolonged periods of isolation and decreased social interaction necessitated by COVID-19 social distancing measures, have forced us all to acknowledge and address the issue of mental health in all workplaces, especially law practices, given the over-representation of lawyers in depression and anxiety diagnoses.
2. Introduction
When you think of workplace health and safety, you
probably think of industrial accidents involving heavy
machinery, causing physical injuries at construction sites
and other high-risk workplaces. Mental health risks may
not immediately come to mind. However, increased
awareness of the mental health impacts of unsafe work
practices over the past decade, together with the
prolonged periods of isolation and decreased social
interaction necessitated by COVID-19 social distancing
measures, have forced us all to acknowledge and address
the issue of mental health in all workplaces, especially
law practices, given the over-representation of lawyers in
depression and anxiety diagnoses. COVID-19 has
changed the way we live and work, meaning many have
been left feeling anxious about the future.
3. Interesting facts
In early 2020, the Black Dog Institute published a report
titled ‘Mental Health Ramifications of COVID-19: The
Australian context’ which identified the following
segments of the population as having an increased risk of
long-lasting mental health issues as a result of COVID-19:
• People with pre-existing anxiety disorders and mental
health problems;
• Health care workers;
• People placed in quarantine; and
• People who are unemployed and in a casualised workforce.
4. In 2020, the Law Society of NSW established the Solicitor
Outreach Service (SOS) where NSW lawyers are able to
access psychological support over the telephone 24/7. Law
Society of NSW president, Richard Harvey, acknowledged
that the legal profession is ‘far from immune from having
its own susceptibility to mental health distress’ and that
the decision to commence the SOS program was informed
by extensive community feedback.
NSW solicitors will also be able to access three sessions a
year with a qualified psychologist at no cost, to encourage
lawyers to prioritise their mental wellbeing and seek help
when they are struggling.
5. Any discussion on mental health would be incomplete
without addressing the issues of sexual harassment and
bullying, from which the legal profession is certainly not
immune. A 2019 report by the Victorian Legal Services
Commissioner found that 61% of female respondents and
10% of male respondents from the legal services industry
reported being sexually harassed.
Further, 81% of respondents who stated that they had
experienced sexual harassment also said that they did not
report it. Both bullying and sexual harassment are highly
destructive and can have a huge impact on one’s
wellbeing and mental health. In already such a vulnerable
and uncertain time in our lives, it’s more important than
ever to speak up against toxic workplace behaviours and
offer support to those in your team.
6. For tips about creating a mentally healthy workplace,
check out Episode 2 of Hearsay with Michael Tooma, pre-
eminent work health and safety lawyer and partner at
Clyde & Co.
