Fear Not: Speaking Out to End Stigma
“Stigma, shame, and fear. These obstacles frequently play a major role in an individual’s decision not to seek help when suffering from mental health and substance use disorders. Too often, lawyers, judges, and law students find themselves wrestling privately with frustration and despair as an addiction or mental health problem dominates their life and threatens their career.” https://www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/profession_wide_anti_stigma_campaign/
The American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs produced this video as the first in a planned series to raise awareness of addiction and mental health issues in our profession.
Well-Being Resources
Minnesota and national well-being resources can assist individuals and organizations with strategies and practices. LCL provides training and guidance to organizations that wish to consider these recommendations.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has created a web page for lawyer well-being. It includes materials from the Court’s recent Conference, A Call to Action on Lawyer Well-Being.
The National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being (which includes the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and other entities) has developed comprehensive and groundbreaking initiatives and resources.
♦ The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change, follows reports on impairment in the legal profession and issues a call to action.
♦ The Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers offers resources and focused exercises and serves as a guide for LCL’s Well-Being group.
♦ The ABA Working Group to Advance Well-Being in the Legal Profession, the successor to the Task Force, has published a Well-Being Pledge for legal employers.