This week (12 to 18 May 2025) marks Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for this year is centred around community and the power it yields to improve mental health and wellbeing by providing a sense of belonging, purpose, safety and support.
According to a 2023 survey, approximately 71% of the nearly 3,000 lawyers surveyed said they suffered from anxiety. But when I ask people if they know anyone who openly talks about their challenges with stress, anxiety and depression, I am usually met with blank faces. While lawyers might acknowledge anxiety in a confidential survey, speaking up and 'going public' remains a challenge. This isn’t really a surprise given we are in a profession that deals with problems. The demands and stresses of our clients are naturally going to flow through to us, as the lawyer, in many instances. We tend to wear stress as a badge of honour – being the last one out the office, replying to emails at 11pm and working on weekends. This culture has become common place.
As the current president of the Leicestershire Law Society, we have been focused on promoting good mental health in the profession and building support networks for those working in our law firms across Leicestershire and Rutland. We want the focus on mental wellbeing to remain on the agenda and continue beyond just a week. We have introduced five 'Wellbeing Champions' at various levels across our local firms who are available to talk if someone wants to reach out. While the response has been limited, if we can help even one person, it is worthwhile.
Our other initiatives include a wellbeing hike, a tour of the counties’ parkruns in January and this week, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, a course on imposter syndrome for lawyers and on fulfilling your true potential.
Last month (April 2025), Law Society of England and Wales president Richard Atkinson and vice president Mark Evans attended a discussion on wellbeing in the profession during their visit to Leicester as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Law Society. The event was sold out – with many of our members wanting to engage in the subject. We held an expert panel and what followed was a sharing of ideas from our larger law firms who have dedicated individuals within their businesses to focus on wellbeing, and ideas and initiatives being introduced in smaller practices. I understand this event was the first of its type during the bicentenary celebrations.
What came out of these discussions was the importance of actions rather than words. For every policy and statement, we need actions and steps that demonstrate how we are taking the health of our colleagues seriously and just like this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme, creating a sense of belonging, safety and support. If our lawyers don’t think that their environment is safe and supportive, we will continue to see a disconnect between surveys and what we are seeing in our profession.
Good mental health and wellbeing is not about being reactive, it is about being proactive. Working on one’s mental health should be an everyday occurrence both at work and at home. At work, we should create boundaries to separate our workday from our personal life. If lawyers are replying to emails at 11pm, clients may expect that to be the norm. It shouldn’t be. We need to do better for ourselves and our colleagues.
At home, being present is so important. In his book, Be Where Your Feet Are: Seven Principles to Keep You Present, Grounded, and Thriving, Scott O’Neill talks about being where your feet are – being present. My sister always says, 'Be where your legs are'. I like this idea as your legs are near your core – a more solid base for you, your mind and body. So, if you are at home, be at home mentally and physically. It is of course easier said than done but reminding yourself to 'Be where your legs are' is a good mantra to live by.
For me, my weeks are bookended by a parkrun – 5km of running or walking. It personally changed my life and is like my weekly re-boot. I know this view is shared by Law Society vice president Mark Evans, who has introduced the Legal Runner initiative, running to promote good physical and mental health. You can get involved with Legal Runner on LinkedIn or Google your local Parkrun. But be warned, Parkrun is addictive!
During this week’s Mental Health Awareness Week, take a moment to consider your own mental health and those around you. And remember: Be where your legs are.
Greg Hollingsworth is the owner and founder of Hollingsworths, a litigation practice based in Leicester. Greg is the current president of the Leicestershire Law Society and an ambassador for Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project (LAMP)
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