Tina Winchester, co-founder and Mental Health Director of Mentally Well Workplaces, is on a mission to make the lives of lawyers easier, happier and healthier. Insights spoke to Tina to understand what particular challenges face lawyers, and her top tips to thrive at work.
Tackling mental health at work
“Work is a huge component of our lives,” said Tina. Given the rising number of Australians facing mental health problems, addressing issues in the workplace can often go a long way to improving the overall state of Australian mental health.
“Workplaces are where we spend the most amount of our time and contribute significantly to our mental health,” Tina said. “The human cost of not addressing the mental health of employees can be devastating – in 2016 – 2017, suicide rates rose by just over 9%. The economic cost is alarming too, with PwC stating that untreated mental illness costs the Australian economy $10.9billion per year.”
Tina established Mentally Well Workplaces as part of her work with the Career Development Centre. It provides a range of programs to educate employers and employees to establish mentally healthy environments in which everyone can succeed and reach peak productivity.
“As individuals, our mental health fluctuates between thriving and struggling or becoming very unwell with a mental illness,” said Tina. “To succeed in our careers and in our personal lives, it’s important that we understand our own mental health and support the mental health of those around us,” explained Tina. “We can’t do this if we don’t have the knowledge and skills. Mentally Well Workplaces works across industries to skill and support people at all levels of a business to create positive and supportive places of work.”
Almost a third of lawyers experience clinical depression
“Research undertaken by Beyond Blue and the University of Sydney revealed the incidence of depressive symptoms amongst lawyers and law students have reached concerning levels,” observed Tina.
“When compared to other professions, lawyers experience the highest incidence of depressive symptoms,” Tina said. “The Brain and Mind Research Institute reported in 2009 that almost a third of solicitors and one in five barristers surveyed suffered from clinical depression. Many do not seek help and instead self-medicate with alcohol.”
Lawyers are often perceived as possessing particular personal traits which may predispose them to depression – for example, learned stoicism, or the pressures of being high achievers.
“These seem to be fixed stereotypes,” said Tina. “It’s far more likely that behaviours and attitudes about characteristics will be learned either at places of study or places of work. Prioritising mental health and wellbeing in workplaces gives people a much better chance of recognising when they may be struggling with life stressors and engage with support before situations and difficulties become critical. The sooner we seek help, the quicker the recovery.”
Shifting perceptions about mental health
Seeking help early on is only possible by shifting community perceptions about mental health, particularly among lawyers.
“Being mentally ill is not a weakness in a person’s character,” said Tina. “It is caused by genetic, biological, social and environmental factors. Industry or workplace culture will impact significantly on whether a person is informed and feels safe to seek help. Stress affects our mental health and lawyers face stress in many forms - long hours, billing requirements, large caseloads.
“Add to that competition amongst peers, stigma around mental illness and increased risk of vicarious trauma (listening to others tell and re-tell traumatic events) and it’s no wonder the profession is suffering.”
The key is communication. Tina encourages lawyers to regularly discuss their work and personal lives with someone they trust.
“It’s so important to keep perspective when working in a stressful industry,” said Tina. “Practice self-care every day. Self-care is not selfish, it’s essential. It doesn’t have to take up lots of time; even 10 minutes each day will have a positive effect. Do something that you enjoy or something that brings you peace and a break from thinking about work.”
Tina also encourages lawyers to be aware of their patterns of thinking.
“Check your thinking,” urged Tina. “Do you believe every thought you have? Do you challenge any negative thinking that creeps up on you through the day?”
“So many people hide their symptoms or don’t know why they feel the way they do,” observed Tina. “By talking openly about mental health in our workplaces and communities we can empower people to understand that they are not alone. Almost half of the Australian population will experience a mental health condition at some time in their lifetime. No-one should be struggling - we can and we do get better.”
