World Mental Health Day/Law Student Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day
An international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
The World Health Organization has designated October 10, 2021, as World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is “Mental Health for All: Let’s Make it a Reality.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health worldwide. Mental health is a global challenge and the rates of stress, depression and anxiety have risen sharply. Yet there is cause for optimism. During this year’s World Health Assembly, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health care to their populations.
The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to identify what needs to be done to make mental health care accessible to people worldwide.
Law Student Mental Health Day
The American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs collaborates with their Law Student Division to offer programs and provide resources for law students on October 10 to coincide with World Mental Health Day. Law Schools are encouraged to sponsor educational programs and events that teach and foster breaking the stigma that prevents law students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss and many of the problems associated with the practice of law and exacerbated by COVID to reach out for help and support. Students are informed of resources available to them through the school and in the community.
The high incidence of mental health and substance use problems in the legal profession has been known for some time. Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPS) throughout the United States, Canada and the UK have been helping lawyers, judges, law students and their family members address these issues for over 30 years and yet more work needs to be done to ensure that all legal professionals and their families know about the help that is available.
For the past five years, the well-being movement has highlighted the need to address the challenges law students and lawyers face and re-double efforts to provide support and resources.
LAPS continue to stress the importance of getting help early to prevent future problems as well as identifying opportunities to address the convergence of racial justice, social activism and mental health, the disparities and isolation of social groups with poor or no access to mental health care, as well as the transition of mental health care delivery from in-person to virtual.
Many law schools and firms in New York City are sponsoring well-being events, and The Lawyer Assistance Program is honored to participate in 10 presentations.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health or substance use problem, contact NYC LAP on our confidential helpline for a free and confidential consultation: 212-302-5787.
