Yes. Seriously. About nothing and everything all at once. And it’s not whining.
Law students and lawyers tend to put their heads in the sand when thinking about issues in their own lives. As lawyers, we are so busy solving other people’s problems – defending a criminal charge, drafting a contract, bringing a workers’ compensation claim, or working on whatever is put in front of us by a client – that sometimes we forget to check in with our own health and well-being. Perhaps because of our role in society (and, if we are being honest, our egos) we tend to think that we can handle our problems ourselves. This perception is misguided and can lead to serious consequences if the stakes are high.
Trying to tackle our own issues of mental health or addiction without professional help can be an uphill battle. Yet, a lack of self-care is particularly pronounced when it comes to these issues. We suffer in silence, letting the repercussions affect our work, personal life, and well-being. If one of us broke a leg, we’d go to the doctor. But when it comes to issues such as anxiety and depression, we are expected to “walk it off.” As a profession and a community, we must change this mindset.
Law students represent the future of the legal profession and have the power to overcome the social stigma related to mental health and addiction concerns. To accomplish this goal, students can start simply by taking the step of caring for their whole self – physical and mental. And there is no time like the present. Temple Law is participating in two programs this spring to facilitate students checking in on their mental health. Both are anonymous, easy, and well worth your time.
First, the ABA Law Student Division and the Dave Nee Foundation, a group focused on mental health in the legal profession, have partnered to create a free, easy, anonymous, online screening for depression, anxiety, and other issues. These screenings are a quick way to determine if you may need to reach out to a doctor or mental health professional for a more thorough evaluation and treatment. Just go to http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/templelaw and complete the online questionnaire. You will get results immediately. These screenings are available until April 10, 2016.
“If one of us broke a leg, we’d go to the doctor. But when it comes to issues such as anxiety and depression, we are expected to “walk it off.” As a profession and a community, we must change this mindset.”
Second, on Tuesday, April 5, from 12:00-3:00pm in Barrack 302, Laurie Besden, Esquire, Executive Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) of PA, will be at the Law School for private conversations with Temple Law students. Interested students can stop by to talk to her confidentially, discreetly, safely, and privately about any type of addiction, alcohol issues, mental health disorder, gambling, stress, or depression question or concerns. Laurie will have literature and resources on hand to address these issues, as well as any ethical or bar application related questions. If you have concerns about a classmate, you can talk to Laurie about strategies for directing that student to helpful resources. All discussion is confidential; you don’t even need to give your name, if you prefer. There is no record of the visit, and no member of the law school administration will be involved in any way. If you cannot stop by on April 5, you can always reach out to LCL at 1-888-999-1941. They are truly there to help.
Outside of these two programs, Temple offers on-campus, professional counseling. The counseling process starts with a walk-in visit. Simply go to Tuttleman Counseling Services on the 5th floor of 1810 Liacouras Walk. You can find the walk-hours and more information at http://www.temple.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/.
Finally, the Office of Student Affairs is always available to help. Stop by Barrack 103, call, or email Dean Esten, Meredith Galto, or Kaitlin Perry if you’d like to talk.
