Law School and Mental Health

If there is one universal fact we all know, it is this: law school is hard.

To help address the everyday needs of the RWU Law community, the law school has a Student Wellness page on the law school website highlighting resources available to students. This page contains information on how to access counseling services on campus; on how to contact the Dean of Students Office; on fitness and recreational services on campus; on upcoming wellness-related events, and more! 

One of the resources highlighted on the Student Wellness page is a LawGuide created by the Law Library to help you find ways to manage the always-present stress of law school in serious ways and not-so-serious ways. The guide includes information on wellness and the law generally, the various reflective spaces at RWU, and ways to bring some fun into your life while in law school. 

If you are interested in learning more about how mental health and substance abuse issues impact the legal community and general resources available to you as law students, here are some additional resources to explore:

• The ABA Law Student Division, the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, and the Dave Nee Foundation collaborated to create the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Toolkit for Law School Students and Those Who Care About Them - this resource discusses signs and risk factors related to mental health and substance abuse and provides suggestions and resources for addressing these health concerns. 
• Voices of Recovery podcast - this series features lawyers who tell their stories about overcoming substance abuse disorders, mental health issues, and addiction.
• The Besden Redemption – the story of Laurie Besden, a lawyer who battled addiction.

The overwhelming message that these resources want to get across is this: you are not alone. 

As we get closer and closer to finals and graduation, don’t forget about self-care. The most important thing to remember is to try and take some time to focus on yourself.