Mental Health in Law School

October 10th is Law Student Mental Health Day. This day coincides with World Mental Health Day and it is a day that recognizes the stress, anxiety, mental and substance abuse issues among law students, lawyers, and others in the legal profession. On this day, law schools and legal employers promote and educate about programs and events available to students and lawyers who facing are mental health or substance use issues. Lastly, on this day we aim to break the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse issues. 

The law school provides a Student Support page. This page contains information on: how to access counseling services on campus, how to contact the Dean of Students Office, fitness and recreational services on campus, upcoming wellness-related events, and more!

One of the resources highlighted on the Student Wellness page is a Law Library LawGuide titled: Stress Management, Mindfulness and Wellness, created to help you find ways to manage the always-present stress of law school in serious 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 law students, explore the following resources:

• 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. The ABA Law Student Division, the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, and the Dave Nee Foundation collaborated to create this resource.
• ABA Mental Health Resources for the Legal Profession. Throughout the country, Lawyer Assistance Programs provide confidential services and support to law students, lawyers, and judges facing substance use or mental health issues. The Directory of Lawyer Assistance Programs provides resources by state.
• Lawyers Depression Project is a grassroots organization that provides peer support and resources surrounding mental health issues for legal professionals.
• 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 message from all of these resources is you are not alone. There are many resources available to assist you to better your mental health and wellness as you navigate the stressful years of law school and beyond.