Mental Health Matters: Resources

Mental health challenges in the legal industry extend beyond the lawyers. Intense pressure, an inability to disconnect, and challenging law firm environments can create difficult working conditions for legal marketing professionals. The result: anxiety, depression, and burnout. Building and maintaining a positive culture requires purposeful focus on mental health in the workplace.

Below are a few resources that will empower you to contribute to mental health solutions both personally and professionally.

• Mental Health America: The nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all.
  • Mental Health Screening Test – Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Following screening, you will be provided with information, resources and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.
  • Work Mental Health Survey – A survey meant to help us identify strategies to help companies do better. The survey is updated annually.
  • The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health – A national certification program to recognize employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces. Led by MHA’s rich history in research and advocacy, the Bell Seal’s holistic evaluation of employer practices considers the entire employee experience.
• Mental Health First Aid: A course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
  • Mental Health First Aid at Work – A mental health training program that teaches participants how to notice and support an individual who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis in a work environment and connect them with appropriate employee and community resources. Mental Health First Aid at Work is a skills-based, experiential and evidence-based practice.
• Emotional CPR (eCPR): An educational program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps: C = Connecting, P = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing.
• QPR Suicide Prevention Training: Gatekeeper training for youth and adults to learn how to recognize someone in crisis and how to Question, Persuade & Refer them to get help. Individual, group, and employer trainings available.
• U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace: outlines the foundational role that workplaces should play in promoting the health and well-being of workers and our communities, and offers Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace.
• Legal Marketing Association Well-Being Resource Center: Created to support legal professionals in being resilient, healthy and whole. The information and tools in the center are for our members and all in the legal industry to access in order to help them and their teams feel supported, safe, engaged and healthy.

Information to know: 9-8-8

The new 988 number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline went into effect on July 16, 2022. In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated 988 as the new three-digit number for the Lifeline. The number will have trained staff to answer calls from individuals at risk for suicide as well as those experiencing other mental health and substance use-related emergencies. Specialized services will be available for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other groups.