 | waterloo region law association |
Improving Mental Health for Lawyers & Paralegals in Waterloo Region
| The Waterloo Region Law Association makes addressing mental health, mental wellness and substance use issues a priority. The Waterloo Region Law Association established the Mental Health Committee at the May 12, 2020 Board of Trustees Meeting. The mandate of the Mental Health Committee is to:
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A 2016 study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine of nearly 13,000 American lawyers found that:
- over 36 per cent showed signs of possible alcohol dependence,
- more than 45 per cent of responding lawyers described experiencing depression,
- 11.5 per cent reported having had suicidal thoughts at some point in their careers, and
- the primary barrier to lawyers seeking treatment or assistance is stigma and the fear of others finding out that they need help
The Member Assistance Program (MAP) provides confidential services and support to lawyers, paralegals, law students or paralegal students who are facing mental health or substance use issues. To find the out more information on MAP, please click here.
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