The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession

This book offers something for everyone: those currently experiencing a mental health crisis, those worried that a friend or colleague may be experiencing a crisis and managers of workplaces looking to prevent crisis and create a healthy environment...I would like to congratulate each of the authors who contributed to this book as well as the editors. This book will make a difference in the legal profession at the individual and organizational level.

The 18 chapters of the book bring a welcome comfort to those living with the challenges of having to deal with mental health issues. And most importantly, all the authors act upon the loud and clear message not to remain silent in situations where talking and listening are key in developing solutions for both the legal profession in general and its individual members in particular.

This book will be the catalyst for a long overdue conversation about the legal profession. From the pens of successful Canadian lawyers comes this book which opens the door to an honest conversation about mental health in the legal profession. It is now up to each of us to take the meaningful steps to create a better, healthier, and happier legal profession.

Often the mental health discussion in the legal community can feel performative, or even disingenuous - something quickly packed away between lunch-and-learns after the special guests leave. The Right Not to Remain Silent shatters those assumptions by providing first-hand insights and personal accounts from members of the profession at every age, stage, and setting of practice. It reminds us that mental health challenges arise in all legal work environments. Through the courage of its authors, it destigmatizes this 'coming out' process by providing candid advice and useful tools for those struggling, regardless of where we are situated, how we identify, or what relative privilege we enjoy in our firms and workplaces.

In courageously sharing their stories, the contributors to this volume show other lawyers that they are not alone in dealing with mental health challenges of all kinds. The Right Not to Remain Silent is an important resource for lawyers and prospective lawyers, whether they struggle personally or want to help support their colleagues. It’s also an inspiring call to action for legal educators, practitioners and regulators to make systemic and cultural changes to remove stigma and promote a healthier and more empathetic profession.

The National Study on the Health & Wellness Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada confirms that poor mental health affects thousands of legal professionals across Canada every year. At a time when the legal profession desperately needs to reduce mental health stigma, this thought-provoking book offers a blend of wisdom, compassion and practical strategies to address the mental health needs of legal professionals. This book shows that we can conquer stigma at the individual, collegial and regulatory levels. We would do well to have this book widely available at paralegal colleges, law schools, law libraries and law offices across Canada.