A recent study by Professor Ian Hickie AM MD FRANZCP FASSA from the Brain and Mind Institute showed that the legal profession has the highest rate of depression among any profession in Australia. As part of the study, 731 law students at 13 law schools from around Australia responded to the survey and a huge 40% were found to be at a point where they should be receiving help for depression.

The study - the largest ever survey of legal practitioners and students in Australia - also found that almost a third of solicitors and one in five barristers suffer levels of depression associated with disability. The results support earlier findings that the incidence of depression in the legal profession is four times higher than in the general population. Lawyers consistently rank first in surveys on depression, with one study finding that 11 per cent of lawyers contemplate suicide every month. Fifteen per cent of lawyers meet the criteria of alcoholism, while substance abuse is dominant in up to 80 per cent of complaints against the Australian legal profession.

It is not unnatural to feel a little overwhelmed at times, especially as a law student. However, given the stigma that is often attached to mental health issues, many law students and lawyers do not seek help until it is too late. Similarly, friends and colleagues of persons suffering from mental health issues are often unsure of how to proceed or where they can seek help from.

With this in mind the UTS LSS believes that all law students should have access to the help they need for depression, eating disorders, alcohol and drug dependence, along with any other mental health issues. Whilst we are not qualified to give counselling advice, we do recommend contacting the following organisations who are qualified to help or who can advise you on how to approach and talk to someone who you believe is suffering:

Lifeline
(counselling service)
13 11 14

A list of counselling services for drug addiction in Sydney can be found here

Beyond Blue
(depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder and postnatal depression)
1300 22 4636

Eating Disorders Foundation of NSW
(eating disorders)
9412 4499

Alcoholics Anonymous
(alcohol addiction)
9799 1199

If you have a moment, please view the clip titled Resilience at Law. It is an incredibly powerful and moving piece on depression in the legal profession.

NSW Young Lawyers Mental Health and Wellbeing Website

The NSW Young Lawyers Mental Health and Wellbeing website is dedicated to helping law students, solicitors and barristers if they are experiencing mental health issues or wish to improve their general wellbeing.

NSW Young Lawyers understand that the law can be a very stressful environment, whether you are studying, working in private practice or for the government.  One in four lawyers will experience a mental health problem in their career to the point where they will require medical assistance.

In 2009, then ALSA President Verity Doyle launched the ALSA Depression Handbook in conjunction with BeyondBlue, with a foreword penned by the Hon Jeff Kennett AC. The handbook was launched at the 2009 ALSA Conference in Brisbane by Commonwealth Attorney-General the Hon Robert McClelland MP, which can be found here: ALSA Depression Handbook

In 2012, student mental health has continued to be a strong focus for ALSA. Recently, ALSA launched its ALSAtv YouTube Project on depression and mental health issues, featuring excerpts from an address by Marie Jepson, Director of the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, and an interview with the Commonwealth Attorney-General.

The ALSA LSS Mental Health Supplement aims to build on the Depression Handbook and the ALSAtv Project by providing LSSs with more information and ideas on the sorts of events, activities, and initiatives they might choose to run on campus to raise awareness and to advocate directly on student mental health and wellbeing.

The ALSA LSS Mental Health Supplement can be downloaded here.

UTS Mental Health Breakfast Forum

Please click here to view the transcript recorded of the event.

Please click here to view the 10 commandments to relieve stress as presented at the Mental Health Breakfast Forum.

Please click here to view the Lessons from Geese by Milton Olson.