{"id":11489,"date":"2024-11-17T10:20:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T10:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?p=11489"},"modified":"2024-11-20T15:20:15","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:20:15","slug":"dealing-with-lawyer-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/dealing-with-lawyer-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs Of &amp; Effective Strategies for Addressing Lawyer Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Depression in the legal profession is widespread, with far-reaching impacts. For solicitors struggling with lawyer depression, the illness can have devastating personal and professional repercussions\u2014but it also affects clients, partners, staff, and business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Depression affects a significant portion of the general population, affecting <a href=\"https:\/\/championhealth.co.uk\/insights\/depression-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1 in 6 adults in the UK<\/a>. Champion Health&#8217;s research in 2023 found that 56% of UK employees are currently experiencing at least mild symptoms of depression. Still, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the stigma of mental illness prevents lawyers from seeking prompt treatment. This can lead to extended and unnecessary suffering, which exacerbates the issue over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To achieve positive changes around mental wellness, legal professionals need to learn how to recognise depression and seek help as early as possible. Not only will this help legal professionals on a personal level, but it can also eventually <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer wellness\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/mental-health-in-the-legal-profession\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">change the conversation around lawyer wellness and mental health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this blog post, we\u2019ll look at the signs and symptoms of depression, and how to recognise them. We\u2019ll also offer strategies for managing lawyer depression and resources to help you deal with it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why are most lawyers depressed?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-11492 size-full \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.3125rem;  width: 741px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:66.8016194332%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer depression\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"depressed&#x20;lawyer&#x20;at&#x20;home\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-30-at-14.40.42.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"741\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"495\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer depression\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"depressed&#x20;lawyer&#x20;at&#x20;home\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"741\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"495\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-30-at-14.40.42.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While there isn\u2019t one direct answer for the pervasive nature of <\/span><a title=\"ABA resources on depression\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/career-development\/stress-and-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">depression in the legal industry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the following factors likely contribute to the issue:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>1. Lawyers tend to be perfectionists. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To succeed in their legal careers, lawyers have to be high achievers. While this level of <\/span><a title=\"Article on reining in perfectionism\" href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2019\/04\/how-to-manage-your-perfectionism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">perfectionism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can be useful when working on a client\u2019s case, it can also cause consistent stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>2. Lawyering is a high-stress, high-stakes, high-performing profession. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Working in a competitive industry under constant pressure to perform also primes lawyers for mental health struggles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>3. Law school does not fully prepare lawyers for a career in law. <\/b>A legal education prepares lawyers to practice law. But a career in law requires top-notch communication, financial, and management skills.\u00a0 Law school does not properly equip lawyers with these skills and few lawyers inherently possess them.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, many lawyers are not equipped with self-care, resilience, and mental wellness strategies. But lawyers and legal professionals need these critical skills to deal with the emotional stress and trauma that often comes with working with legal clients.<\/p>\n<p><b>4. The legal industry has a prevalent burnout culture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Burnout is characterised by the World Health Organisation as a syndrome <\/span><a title=\"Article on burning out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">resulting from unmanaged chronic workplace stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Many lawyers suffer from ongoing, extreme physical and emotional exhaustion and stress that can leave them depleted. These symptoms of <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer burnout\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/work-related-stress-solicitor-burnout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lawyer burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can also overlap with symptoms of lawyer depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>5. Mental illness stigma. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Legal professionals fear being treated differently or discriminated against because of mental illness. This is a serious issue that contributes to <\/span><a title=\"Article on mental health stigma and discrimination\" href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/patients-families\/stigma-and-discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">more than half of people with mental illness not receiving help<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and many more putting off or avoiding treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How to recognise the signs of lawyer depression<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Depression is an illness\u2014it\u2019s not just a state of mind or something that anyone can\u201csnap out of.\u201d With this in mind, you need to know the signs of depression so that you can get professional help as early as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Note that people\u2019s individual experiences with depression are unique and not everyone will encounter the same struggles. But these are some of the common signs and symptoms of depression to look for based on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/mental-health\/conditions\/depression-in-adults\/symptoms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">information from the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> NHS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014especially if you have been experiencing the symptoms most of the day, most days, for at least two weeks:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emotional symptoms<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Lack of joy.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Do certain activities or hobbies (or even work) that used to bring you happiness no longer interest or please you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Low mood<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Are you consistently and persistently feeling sad, anxious, or irritable?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>A sense of emptiness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Do you feel hopeless, pessimistic, or \u201cempty\u201d consistently?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Feeling guilty. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you experience ongoing and inappropriate feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical symptoms<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Aches or pains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Do you feel physical pain in your muscles or joints with no clear cause that doesn\u2019t get better with treatment? Do you have unexplained headaches?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cramps, or digestive problems. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you have unexplained digestive and stomach troubles or pains with no clear cause that don\u2019t get better with treatment?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Unintentional shifts in appetite and\/or weight<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This could mean a significant loss of appetite or weight or an unexplained appetite of weight gain.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Sleep struggles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Do you have difficulty sleeping, insomnia, or fragmented sleep? Or, do you suddenly oversleep or sleep all the time?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Decreased energy or fatigue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Do you feel listless or overwhelmingly low energy?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Changes in pace<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Are you moving or talking more slowly? Do you have trouble sitting still, or do you feel restless?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mental symptoms<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Difficulty concentrating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Do you have trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Thoughts of death<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Recurrent thoughts of death or death by suicide are red-flag signs to seek help immediately.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you or someone you know are experiencing thoughts of death or death by suicide, seek help immediately. You can call the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samaritans.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Samaritans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which offers free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24\/7.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How depression affects your quality of life<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s common for people to try to brush off mental health challenges\u2014lawyers are no different. But the reality is that lawyer depression affects everything in your life in a negative way. This includes your overall quality of life, work, business, and client experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As a lawyer and creator of <\/span><a title=\"Lawyers with Depression\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawyerswithdepression.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lawyers with Depression<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Daniel Lukasik shares, that <\/span><a title=\"NYSBA article on one lawyer living and working with depression\" href=\"https:\/\/nysba.org\/one-lawyer-living-and-working-with-depression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">unmanaged depression can make it incredibly difficult to concentrate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on and deal with legal work. In Daniel\u2019s case, major depression led to fragmented sleep and eventually, an inability to engage with his family life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is critical to manage depression as early as possible, with the help of a professional.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How to deal with lawyer depression<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dealing with solicitor depression means finding ways to manage and treat it, just as you would with a chronic physical illness. Managing depression is possible. It\u2019s also important to do it as soon as possible. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for lawyer depression, but the following can help.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Seek help from a mental health professional early<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-10103 size-large  o-image__tall\"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.875rem;  width: 736px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:139.066666667%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer using meta threads on phone\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/lawyer-using-meta-threads-on-phone.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"750\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"1043\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer using meta threads on phone\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"750\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"1043\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/lawyer-using-meta-threads-on-phone.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finding a trusted doctor or mental health professional to treat lawyer depression is essential. Treatment for depression is complex. It may or may not involve medication, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">psychotherapies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, brain stimulation therapies, and other treatments. A mental health professional will likely suggest a combination of treatment options depending on a specific experience with depression. While turning to others for help can feel uncomfortable at first, a qualified mental health professional will guide you to the appropriate therapies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The earlier you can recognise that you may be struggling with depression and seek professional intervention and support, the better and more effective your treatment will be. Symptoms of depression tend to compound and worsen over time. This makes it more difficult to seek treatment the longer you wait.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Part of the power of seeking help from a mental health professional comes from the act of speaking up and opening up about your struggle. As<\/span><a title=\"Clio log post on improving mental wellness\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/blog\/steps-improve-mental-wellness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> lawyer coaches Allison Wolf and Terry DeMeo explain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, talking to someone is a powerful step towards improving mental wellness. While shame and fear are common when it comes to depression, talking about your experiences with someone you trust can shine a light on the situation and help lighten the burden.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Other ways to manage depression<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When it comes to mental health and lawyer depression, seeking professional help is necessary. However, there are other steps you can also take to actively support your mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prioritise mental and physical health and wellness<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-11494 size-full \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.25rem;  width: 740px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:67.027027027%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer depression\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Someone&#x20;out&#x20;for&#x20;a&#x20;walk,&#x20;prioritising&#x20;their&#x20;mental&#x20;and&#x20;physical&#x20;health\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-30-at-16.25.03.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"740\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"496\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer depression\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Someone&#x20;out&#x20;for&#x20;a&#x20;walk,&#x20;prioritising&#x20;their&#x20;mental&#x20;and&#x20;physical&#x20;health\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"740\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"496\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-30-at-16.25.03.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Supporting strategies that help <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer work-life balance\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/is-work-life-balance-in-uk-law-achievable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">reduce stress and support wellness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> could include adopting an alternative work schedule and spending time on a hobby. You could also use <\/span><a title=\"Clio log post on tools for lawyers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/tools-for-solicitors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">legal technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to reduce time spent on administrative tasks at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practice mindfulness<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mindfulness educator Jeena Cho explains on <\/span><a title=\"Clio podcast with Jeena Cho\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/podcast\/jeena-cho\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">this episode<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Daily Matters <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">podcast, mindfulness can be a powerful tool for lawyers to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. As <\/span><a title=\"Mindfulness and Legal Practice: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Stress Reduction in Lawyers\" href=\"https:\/\/psyarxiv.com\/6zs5g\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">research by the University of Western Ontario<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> based on Jeena\u2019s eight-week mindfulness meditation program notes, regular practice can help decrease stress and depression. This research shows decreases of 32% and 29%, respectively. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mental health check-ins\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Timing is crucial when it comes to mental wellness. By <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">normalising and encouraging regular mental health check-ins<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the legal community can promote a shift towards mental wellness. Check-ins can take two forms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Professional<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Visiting a mental health care practitioner for a check-up. This is similar to regular physical check-ups with a doctor or a dental check-in with a dentist.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Self<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Regular self-check-ins to assess your mental wellness. can help you get into the practice of stepping back to observe your mental health. This may alert you that you need professional mental health support.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find ways to reduce work stress\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">High levels of stress and long work hours can exacerbate mental exhaustion and negatively impact mental health and wellness. Lawyers tend to work more than they may want to, with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/guides\/legal-trends-report-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2022 Legal Trends Report <\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">finding that 74% of lawyers offer to communicate with clients on the weekend, while 69% offer to communicate in the evenings. Additionally, our <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/guides\/2018-legal-trends-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2018 Legal Trends Report<\/a><\/em> noted that 39% of lawyers reported that those extra hours negatively impact their personal lives. To mitigate these hours, learn to delegate work and take breaks from work when possible. While it may seem unproductive to slow down in this way, it\u2019s worth it in the long run if it helps you stay mentally healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stop multitasking\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similarly, actively working to stop multitasking can also help support mental wellness. As <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on improving mental wellness\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/blog\/steps-improve-mental-wellness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Allison and Terry note<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, research finds that trying to focus on multiple tasks at one time can <\/span><a title=\"Article on media multitasking and memory\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/26223469\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cause harm to our brains<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This is counterproductive to mental health. Instead, get in the habit of scheduling your day to focus on one thing at a time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more ways to <\/span><a title=\"Clio podcast on lawyer wellness and mental health\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/podcast\/lawyer-wellness-and-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">protect your overall well-being as a lawyer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014and as an individual, listen to the perspectives of multiple experts in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Resources for lawyers with depression<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many lawyers feel alone in their struggle with depression. But there are many resources to help lawyers find guidance and support as they move towards mental wellness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling disconnected or isolated creates an environment that can exacerbate attorney depression. Finding community spaces\u2014even online\u2014where you can network, share, and connect with like-minded people can be useful for your career. You can also build connections and feel less alone. For example, <\/span><a title=\"Clio's The Law Community\" href=\"https:\/\/community.clio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clio\u2019s The Law Community<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0is an online network built for legal professionals to learn, connect, share, and grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Law Societies<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many law societies offer wellness resources for lawyers with depression. This includes phone numbers to local helplines, links to access to mental health assistance, and resources like articles, self-assessments, and podcasts. Check out the following hubs.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/career-development\/stress-and-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law Society of England and Wales<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawscot.org.uk\/members\/wellbeing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law Society of Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.ie\/Solicitors\/Representation\/psychological-services\/professional-wellbeing-hub\/looking-after-yourself-and-others\/wellbeing-seekinghelp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law Society of Ireland<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National organisations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following organisations offer support and resources for lawyers with depression across the country:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcare.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law Care<\/a>. A mental health charity for the legal sector.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mindforwardalliance.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The City Mental Health Alliance<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealtheurope.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mental Health Europe.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing the conversation around lawyers and depression<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-11349 size-full \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.5rem;  width: 744px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:69.2204301075%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"A photo of two legal professionals enjoying time in the office\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"A&#x20;photo&#x20;of&#x20;two&#x20;legal&#x20;professionals&#x20;enjoying&#x20;time&#x20;in&#x20;the&#x20;office\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.55.04.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"744\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"515\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"A photo of two legal professionals enjoying time in the office\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"A&#x20;photo&#x20;of&#x20;two&#x20;legal&#x20;professionals&#x20;enjoying&#x20;time&#x20;in&#x20;the&#x20;office\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"744\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"515\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.55.04.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lawyer depression is a real, common, and treatable illness. But too many people are silently struggling with it alone. By learning to recognise the signs and symptoms of depression, lawyers can be better equipped to seek professional mental health treatment when it\u2019s needed. It\u2019s also essential for legal professionals to learn the steps they can take to support their mental wellness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lawyers need to seek professional help to manage their depression. But the industry can also take steps to create an environment that promotes and prioritises mental wellness and destigmatises mental illness. This is because the responsibility is not <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">only<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on lawyers but also law firm owners and everyone in the legal industry. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This shift can occur\u2014over time\u2014through actions like modelling mental wellness behaviours from the top down. Law firm owners also need to take steps to challenge norms and <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on law firm culture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/toxic-law-firm-culture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">build a strong law firm culture<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that promotes mental health and work-life balance. With a combination of individual management and cultural shifts, the legal profession can cease to be an inadvertent hotbed for depression. The goal is for lawyers to thrive in an industry that supports mental wellness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"o-form--marketo l-form--marketo js-marketo-form  \"\n\tdata-form-id=\"5186\"\n\tdata-form-ids=''\n\tdata-is-kiosk-mode=\"\"\n\tdata-is-multi-step-form=\"\"\n\tdata-is-debug-mode=\"\"\n\tdata-cookie=\"\"\n\tdata-next-form-id=\"\"\n\tdata-zoom-info-form-complete=\"\"\n\tdata-followup-url=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/lawyer-mental-health-how-to-practice-mindfulness-and-avoid-burnout-in-law-guide.pdf\"\n\tdata-followup-url-target=\"\"\n\tdata-followup-cta=\"\"\n\tdata-thank-you-message=\"\"\n\tdata-submit-button-text=\"Download &amp; Fill\"\n\t\n\t\n\t\n>\n\t\t<div class=\"js-marketo-form-anchor\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"o-form__wrap l-form__wrap is-just-form\">\n\t\t<div class=\"o-form__loader js-form-loader\">Loading ...<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"js-form-container is-hidden\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"o-form__title\">Read our Guide: Lawyer Mental Health: How to Practice Mindfulness and Avoid Burnout in Law<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawyer depression is a common issue in the legal profession. Discover the symptoms and explore effective strategies to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":11490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"coauthors":[58],"class_list":["post-11489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","content_category-professional-development","content_category-wellness-and-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v24.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Signs Of &amp; Effective Strategies for Addressing Lawyer Depression | Clio UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Lawyer depression is a common issue in the legal profession. Discover the symptoms and explore effective strategies to help.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/dealing-with-lawyer-depression\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Signs Of &amp; Effective Strategies for Addressing Lawyer Depression\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lawyer depression is a common issue in the legal profession. Discover the symptoms and explore effective strategies to help.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/blog\/dealing-with-lawyer-depression\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Clio UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-11-17T10:20:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-11-20T15:20:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-30-at-14.29.31.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"743\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"415\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sharon Miki\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sharon Miki\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Signs Of & Effective Strategies for Addressing Lawyer Depression | Clio UK","description":"Lawyer depression is a common issue in the legal profession. 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