Taking care of ourselves

We may only have inched our way into 2015, but I have little doubt that, like me, you are already back into the swing of things.

Holiday planning seems to become more of a priority each year, no sooner back in the office than seeking to escape it. That said, if the electioneers are to be believed, we are
in for a buoyant few years.

Despite the global atrocities that have dominated the headlines over recent weeks, the news channels (and those who make the news) appear to be forcing on us a renewed optimism. Britain can and will be great again! This shiny and fresh optimism sits well with our annual 'new year, new start' outlook, clinging as we are to the resolutions of last week.

Unfortunately, while the mornings (and evenings) remain dark and the sun only occasionally makes an appearance to remind us what we have to look forward to, some people find it more difficult than others to hold on to any positive thought.

A return to work after a break brings with it an expected anxiety, but recent statistics from the legal mental health charity LawCare have gone to highlight the difficulties that our profession faces each day.

Of the 473 cases LawCare dealt with last year, three quarters were stress related and
a further 12 per cent concerned depression. Some of these issues might be helped by a change in diet or exercise regime, but all too often the problems are much more difficult to identify and address.

None of us expect the life of a lawyer to be without stress. Indeed, some stress can
be good for us, motivating us to get up in the morning and to do the best job we can.
But with pressures of deadlines, client demands and day-to-day administration,
we can sometimes be overwhelmed.

Of those callers to LawCare, 27 per cent identified workload as the reason for their concern and one in five put it down to disciplinary issues. LawCare provides an invaluable service, but there is a responsibility on each of us to recognise symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in our colleagues and, where possible, to do something to help them.

Although mental health difficulties can come at any time, it is especially concerning that over one third of callers were trainees or under five years qualified. In a future issue of Solicitors Journal, managing editor Laura Clenshaw will delve deeper into the easily forgotten problem of mental health in the legal profession. For now, to coin a phrase from Jerry Springer, take care of yourself, and each other.

Kevin Poulter, editor at large

#SJPOULTER 

editorial@solicitorsjournal.co.uk