April 09 National Newsletter   Depression in the legal industry: not always an open and shut case beyondblue the national depression initiative www.beyondblue.org.au

 

 

Lawyers in most cases are high achievers accustomed to high-pressure situations and long working days. It is these characteristics and the very nature of the job which may also put them at risk of depression and anxiety.

 

Two years ago, a nationwide survey confirmed that lawyers working in firms were more vulnerable to depression than other white collar professionals. Perhaps not surprisingly, a high expectation to succeed from their peers, and themselves, meant many lawyers with depression kept silent.

 

In 2007, beyondblue: the national depression initiative was invited to participate in the Beaton Consulting National Annual Professions Survey as a pro-bono partner. Of the 7,500 people working in professional service firms surveyed, lawyers were found to have the highest prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms. A significant proportion (one-third) of legal professionals said they used illegal drugs and alcohol to try to manage feelings of depression and sadness.

 

Since the report was published, beyondblue has worked with the legal profession in Australia to raise awareness of depression and to break down the stigma which is often rife within the industry.

 

beyondblue’s Workplace Program Manager, Therese Fitzpatrick, says pressure placed on legal professionals to ‘sink or swim’ can be overwhelming and may cause problems.

 

“Working as a legal professional, particularly in a firm, can be a high-pressure job which attracts people who are high-achievers working to tight deadlines and trying to succeed in an environment that tends to be black and white, win or lose,” she said.

 

“Generally, the profession seems to attract people who are perfectionists who may become quite pessimistic because they’re used to having to look at the worst case scenario.

 

“Anecdotally, it’s not unusual for people to say that if you work within the legal profession, you need to be able to cope with the stress. As soon as someone indicates some kind of weakness, it’s a sign that perhaps they’re not going to get ahead.”

 

Another worrying trend to come out of the report was what lawyers thought would be helpful for a colleague with depression. Ten per cent thought it would be a good idea to take someone to the pub for a few drinks to help them forget their worries, despite the fact that alcohol often exacerbates depression.

 

To address these issues, beyondblue has been working closely with law institutes and employers across the country for the past 18 months to find ways to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding common mental health problems in the industry. The goal is to create a supportive and accepting working environment where people feel comfortable discussing their health problems and managers are sympathetic to the needs of those who may have a mental health problem.

 

beyondblue has delivered National Workplace Program depression awareness training sessions to partners, managers and general staff of law firms around the country. These sessions, which are tailored to suit individual needs, are delivered by a mental health professional with business/HR qualifications.

 

Participants who attend beyondblue National Workplace Program sessions are given resources which contain:
• advice for employees experiencing depression
• advice for managers and supervisors about how to talk to and assist an employee to get appropriate help
• information about legal obligations for managers
• information about how to help a colleague with depression
• information about returning to work after absence.

 

Ms Fitzpatrick concedes there is still more work to do to further reduce the stigma so that the legal industry as a whole accepts depression as an illness, no different from diabetes or epilepsy; however, the legal industry is making progress.

 

“There are lots of questions being asked around organisational change right now,” she said. “I think it would be great for legal firms to look at delivering mental health training for all employees within their organisations. This isn’t just an issue that’s ‘out there’.

 

“There is always going to be a high level of pressure, but organisations need to start to think about what they can do to shift their culture so that it’s okay for people to seek help and it doesn’t impact on the rest of their career if they talk about these things.”

 

A beyondblue DVD including interviews with a Queens Council and Senior Council lawyers who have experienced depression has been produced especially for the training courses.

Commonly held myths about depression

 

People with depression should simply identify the cause of depression and remove the cause.

 

There is usually no single cause for depression. The illness can develop due to a complex interplay of social, emotional, environmental, biological and physical factors. It is not helpful to have a simplistic view of the illness because this attitude may impact on the way the illness, and people identified with depression, are managed in the workplace.

 

It would be helpful to encourage someone with depression to take time off work or a holiday.

 

Unfortunately, time off could to lead to further isolation for the person who is depressed, making it harder for them to return to the workplace. Such perceptions are likely to contribute to higher rates of prolonged absenteeism and lead to a greater impact on the individual and the organisation.

 

It is helpful to take people with depression to the pub for a few drinks to help them forget their worries.

 

Encouraging a person with depression to manage how they are feeling with alcohol is likely to make the situation worse. Unfortunately, in the legal profession, one in 10 people think this is a good strategy to assist a colleague who may have a mental health problem.

 

The beyondblue National Workplace Program

 

The beyondblue National Workplace Program is an award-winning, evidence-based program designed to address depression and related disorders in the workplace.

 

More than 400 organisations and 40,000 participants nation-wide have taken part in beyondblue workshops including Minter Ellison, Law Institute of Victoria and the Australian Government Solicitor. Other organisations who have taken the training include: the Commonwealth Bank, the Australian Federal Police, National Australia Bank, Optus and the Australian Taxation Office.

 

To find out more about how beyondblue workshops may benefit your workplace, call the beyondblue National Workplace Team on (03) 9810 6100 or email workplace@beyondblue.org.au