26% more seek help for stress and drink

The number of lawyers seeking help for stress, depression, alcoholism, bullying and other workplace crises soared by 26% last year, figures released this week have shown.

LawCare, the health support and advice service for lawyers across the UK, said that 2006 looks like continuing the upward trend, with January proving the busiest month in its eight-year history.


On average, a new case was taken on by LawCare virtually every day last year. Some 63% related to stress and depression, one in five concerned alcohol problems - almost two-thirds of which came from men - while 6% resulted from workplace bullying. Almost all the bullying calls were from women.


Female assistant solicitors were by far the largest class of callers, with problems ranging across the spectrum, including drugs, but mainly stress and depression. LawCare administrator Anna Jones said this was probably because women are more willing to ask for help than because they have greater problems than men. By contrast, men tend to seek to relieve stress through alcohol, she said, and this is reflected by the proportion of older male lawyers who call with drink problems.


'There is a lot of need for help, but lawyers don't want to ask for it,' Ms Jones added.


The proportion of alcohol-related cases has risen from a steady level of 15% in recent years, while 40% of barristers who contacted the service reported a problem with alcohol. Possible explanations for this include perceptions among barristers as to LawCare's role, 'or that barristers are less likely to suffer stress', a briefing note said.


In total, 1,234 calls were made or taken relating to the 352 new cases in 2005. LawCare also handled 881 calls in relation to cases opened in previous years.


Law Society President Kevin Martin said: 'These are very worrying trends. Firms need to be sure that they are aware of and manage the demands on their solicitors.'