Idaho State Bar’s Post

This week, May 6-10, 2024, is Well-Being Week in Law 2024, organized by the Institute for Well-Being in Law to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month. According to the Institute, the objective of the Well-Being Week in Law is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the legal profession all year-round to improve well-being. Everything I said in my prior post about Mental Health Awareness Month holds true for Well-Being Week in Law. Help our profession, and our clients and the public at large, by paying attention to your mental health and well-being. Be safe and be well.

How are you? How are you, really? Today starts Well-Being Week in Law. This is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, focus on well-being, and support each other. Each day has a theme: physical, spiritual, career and intellectual, social, and emotional. Check out the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) website for small actions that can make a big difference (link in first comment). There are also webinars and other resources. Let's remove the stigma surrounding mental health and promote well-being.

Last week, I was invited by the Daily Report to contribute a guest column on attorney mental health, following my presentation at the Mercer Law Review’s 75th Anniversary Symposium. I gladly accepted the opportunity to set the stage for two upcoming pieces — an ABA essay collection in January and a Law Review article (possibly in April) connected to the Symposium. These pieces dive into what I believe is the crucial "next phase" in addressing mental health in our profession. Rather than sticking to statistical analysis and fear-based education, I argue for a shift towards understanding and meeting the unique needs of various subgroups within our legal community. This is particularly crucial for those not served by existing wellness initiatives from state and national bars, as well as law firms, such as those possibly dealing (knowingly or otherwise) with mental illness of any sort. Curious about the future of mental health in the legal field? My latest Daily Report piece offers a 30,000-foot view of where I see the path forward. Stay tuned for more updates, and let's keep the conversation going! #attorneymentalhealth #lawyermentalhealth #attorneywellness #attorneysuicide #lawyersuicide #mercerlaw #mercerlawreview #georgiabar https://lnkd.in/ei6Yk4sJ

🌱 Get ready for Well-Being Week in Law starting May 6th! 🌱 Aligned with Mental Health Awareness Month, this important week emphasizes well-being in the legal profession. If you missed our Preparing for Well-Being Week webinar, catch the recording on our resources page. Dive into the practices that support mental health and professional fulfillment. 🔗 Find more details and resources here: https://lnkd.in/eJdPdfRw 🔗 For additional information and resources for organizations and individuals, visit the Institute for Well-Being in Law: https://lnkd.in/e-gfMtEi #WellBeingWeekInLaw #MentalHealthAwareness #LegalProfession

How do we move illbeing towards wellbeing? Prevention! Prevention is not a quick fix. It is a commitment to mental health and wellbeing. It provides an avenue for systemic and culture change, which researchers and health professionals have been recommending for over a decade. Prevention can be seemlessly incorporated into the way the legal profession does business. Join Support for Lawyers on Wednesday at 11am for an insightful webinar discussing lawyers' wellbeing and how prevention is key to addressing the legal profession's current wellbeing challenges. #supportforlawyers #maintainingyourspark #lawyerswellbeing #lawyersmentalhealth #legalprofessionwellbeing #legalprofessionmentalhealth #preventillbeing #prevention #preventionistheanswer

Potter Anderson is excited to participate in Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL)! WWIL is organized annually by the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) during Mental Health Awareness Month. WWIL's goal is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession to improve well-being. Each day focuses on a distinct dimension of holistic well-being for legal professionals. Today's theme is Stay Strong (Physical Well-Being). Striving for regular activity, good diet and nutrition, enough sleep and recovery. Limiting addictive substances and seeking help for physical health when needed. #wellbeingweekinlaw #mentalhealthawareness

It's your last chance to take this year's Survey on Mental Health in the Legal Industry, open to all lawyers and professionals in the legal world. Participate, share the link, encourage others to participate. Link to the confidential survey: https://loom.ly/YWoNTXs

A fascinating discussion (but much too short; I agree @Alex Ruch Keene KC!) with Prof. Gavin Davidson about a recent study he and colleagues conducted on comparing #mentalhealth and #mentalcapacity law across countries. Definitely one for Mental Health #SocialWorkers to watch (and read the accompanying article too!) #ADM #RightsBasedCare #CTOs #SWisHumanRights

Part II of my series, "Exploring The Complexities of Mental Health and Law," is out now! Check out Pages 5-6 of The Gavel below.

Counseling is not just a remedy for difficulties but a foundational element of wellness. Let’s shift the perspective: away from responding to symptoms and toward integrating counseling into our routine wellness practices. As we navigate the complexities of our daily lives, the importance of physical wellness is often highlighted, with regular exercise and balanced diets being the norm. Yet, when it comes to mental health, the approach tends to be reactive rather than proactive. Just as we engage in physical activities to keep our bodies healthy, participating in counseling can serve as a preventive measure to maintain our mental and emotional balance. It’s about creating a space where we can reflect, grow, and address concerns before they evolve into crises. By prioritizing counseling as part of our regular wellness routine, we advocate for a balanced approach to health that acknowledges the inseparable connection between mind and body. THANK YOU to all of the counselors serving our communities. April is about recognizing you and the meaning and value of your work. Thank you for being there, for all of us. #MentalHealthAwareness #Wellness #Counseling