Christopher Marks’ Post

Today we're bringing you some seriously needed conversation from our latest BE THAT LAWYER episode with the fantastic Pamela DeNeuve. We tackled The Importance of Stress Reduction for Lawyers. Pamela breaks down the real talk on overcoming the relentless busyness and stress we face as lawyers and why the legal industry needs to shift its approach to mental health. One of the many gems Pamela dropped is the crucial step of setting yourself up for success the day before. Imagine leaving the office knowing exactly what you'll tackle first thing the next morning, and then giving yourself an hour and a half of focused work before diving into emails or calls. Talk about a momentum boost! And if you can start with meditation before that, you’re setting a solid foundation for your entire day. The stigma around mental health in many law firms is a barrier we need to dismantle. As Pamela pointed out, resources exist, but too often, they go underutilized due to cultural taboos. It’s time for a paradigm shift where taking advantage of mental health resources is seen as a strength, not a weakness. This conversation is a vital one for anyone in the legal field feeling the pressure and looking for actionable strategies to manage stress and improve their daily workflow. Pamela’s insights are not just helpful; they're essential for us to thrive professionally and personally. Check out the episode and let’s make a collective effort to support one another in prioritizing our mental health: https://lnkd.in/gmEu6hrq Your best year could start with changing just a few daily habits. #LawyerLife #ProfessionalDevelopment #MentalHealth #BeThatLawyer

It's Mental Health Awareness Week. Long hours, time pressure and feeling like you can't even take a break - this may all sound familiar to you. If you're feeling like you can't cope sometimes, you're not alone. We've compiled some statistics from the International Bar Association's survey from 2021. While the results may be three years old - from right after the pandemic, they will still ring true for many of you. Being successful in your legal career should not come at the cost of your wellbeing. While there may not be an immediate remedy to solve all issues in the legal sector (although the effective implementation of legal tech helps!), becoming part of a community like ELTA can give you a sense of belonging and not only help with your professional development but also with finding like-minded peers that you can share your experiences with: https://elta.org/members/ The full report on mental wellbeing based on the International Bar Association's survey is available as a download here: https://lnkd.in/dcgiqUtR #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #LegalTech

You can save someone's life. Literally. Read below for 4 easy things you can do. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this is Wellbeing Week in Law (May 6-10, 2024) which recognizes that attorneys are experiencing depression, anxiety, and burnout at alarmingly higher rates than people in other professions. Regardless of how depressed or suicidal you or a colleague feel, there is help available and 80% of those who get help recover. Here are 4 steps you can take that may save a colleague’s life: 1. Know the signs such as increased absences, isolation, mood changes, substance abuse, chronic fatigue. 2. Ask, “Are you OK? Have you thought about killing yourself?” 3. Listen, stay present with them and, if warranted, call 911. 4. Connect them with help: National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-TALK Text “hello” to 741741 Contact your state bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program I usually post about job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market. For information on those topics, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine. #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealth #lawjobs #wellbeing #suicideprevention

🌟 Be Kind and Patient with Yourself 🌟 When it comes to mental health, the first step toward healing and growth is simple: be kind and patient with yourself. It's okay to have bad days. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, to make mistakes, and to not have all the answers, especially when it comes to knowing your legal rights or navigating life's complexities. We often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, expecting perfection in everything we do. But the truth is, none of us are perfect, and that’s more than okay. What truly matters is giving yourself the space and grace to take things one step at a time. Maybe today wasn’t your best day. Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you feel lost or unsure of how to proceed. That’s okay. Life is a journey, not a race, and each of us is learning along the way. Part of that learning involves understanding that it’s important to put yourself first sometimes. Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re giving up—it means you’re prioritizing your well-being. Whether it’s stepping away from work, saying no to obligations, or simply pausing to breathe, it’s crucial to allow yourself the time to recharge. At Friendly Law, we understand how overwhelming it can feel when you don’t know your rights or when life throws challenges your way. That's why we focus on Therapeutically Oriented Preventive Law (TOPL) and Legally Oriented Preventive Mental Health (LOPMH), helping you not just with legal knowledge but with the mental tools to navigate these challenges. Remember, self-care isn't selfish. It’s essential. Being kind to yourself, giving yourself permission to be less than perfect, and taking time to reflect and rest is not only good for your mental health but also helps you tackle life’s challenges with renewed energy and clarity. So today, take that break. Put yourself first. Be patient with where you are, and know that you're doing the best you can—and that’s enough. 🌟 #FriendlyLaw #TOPL #LOPMH #MentalHealth #SelfCare #BeKindToYourself #Patience #Rest #WellBeing #MentalWellness #ProgressNotPerfection #KnowYourRights #TakeABreak #Empowerment

I just had an enlightening conversation with Pamela DeNeuve on the latest episode of BE THAT LAWYER: The Importance of Stress Reduction for Lawyers. Pamela shared some eye-opening insights about why it’s so crucial for legal professionals to embrace empathy, compassion, and to find that trusted listening ear. It’s not just about managing our caseloads; it’s about managing our well-being too. We dove deep into the roots of anxiety, stress, and depression that, for many, began back in law school. It’s a journey that can often feel isolating, but Pamela reminded us that we’re not alone in this. In fact, she shared a startling statistic: 11% of lawyers struggle with suicidal ideation. It’s a wake-up call for all of us to prioritize mental health and to remember there’s help and hope out there. Pamela also offered some practical advice on what to do (and what not to do) to set up our mornings for success, stressing the importance of how we prepare the night before. “It starts the night before. You’ve got to prepare, to set yourself up for the next day. How you start your day will determine the rest of your day. You can’t be sloppy or haphazard,” she says. It’s about being intentional with our routines to overcome the busyness and stress that comes with our profession. If you’re feeling the weight of your responsibilities and looking for ways to reduce stress and start your day right, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s change the conversation and culture in our industry together, embracing mental health resources without stigma. Tune in now and let’s support each other in finding a better, healthier way to practice law: https://lnkd.in/gmEu6hrq  #empathy #StressReduction #BetterDay #LawyerLife

I am a bit late with this post but I have been thinking a lot about mental health as I continue to hear very tragic and sad stories about people who were unable to overcome their demons. As we all know, May is Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the importance of mental health, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and promoting the resources available to those in need. Unfortunately, we have seen a marked increase in the numbers of people experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. As such, it’s vitally important that we recognize that depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are illnesses just like heart disease and cancer. We need to recognize that it’s OK to not be OK all the time. During my tenure in the legal industry, firms and associations were focused only on the lawyers. I am, however, optimistic to see that firms are starting to recognize that the professional team members are also experiencing mental health challenges and some are even taking steps to offer assistance. Also, the Legal Marketing Association has thankfully recognized that we struggle as well and offers support through its "Well-Being Resource Center." If you are struggling, I hope you will seek help – either talking to your spouse, partner or close friend; speaking with a mental health professional; taking a break from work and doing something for yourself like takie a nice walk, golf, exercise, watch a movie, or read a book. Remember, we don’t save lives…. we help lawyers and firms grow their business. For me, I focus on that fact and that my life outside of work is what means the most to me. 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 – 𝒏𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters #Support #Wellbeing

Is mental health getting worse or better in the legal industry? According to The American Lawyer's annual mental health survey, self-reported mental health issues are slightly down on last year. That feels like positive news, right? But they're still up – radically, in the case of "other mental health issues" (which is anything that's not: depression, anxiety, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse) – when compared with pre-pandemic data. Why? Well, we don't know for sure, but we do know that the pandemic made mental health conditions a lot worse, and we also know that life in the law can be less than optimal for mental health - according to the American Lawyer survey, 79.43% of lawyers feel their work environment contributes to their mental health issues in 2024. In some ways, I feel comforted by the fact that people are willing to disclose and speak up about their mental health. The more we normalise doing that, the easier it is for people to seek help when they need it. And then there is the part of me that worries about how we will ever really be able to get a handle on all of this given everything going on in the world at the moment. 'Other' is a broad category, spanning everything from eating disorders, through personality disorders, and post-traumatic stress. Let's just say there's been no shortage of potential triggers lately... I imagine figuring out how to address this increase and create an inclusive environment for people, without compromising on service delivery, is a constant challenge for firms. ❓ Do you have any examples of where this is being done well? Comment and share if you do, because collaboration is so much more important than competition here! 🖼 Image from The American Lawyer's 2024 survey. #mentalhealth #law #wellbeing

While preparing for an upcoming mindfulness talk, I ran across this article from The American Lawyer. ALM recently surveyed nearly 2,500 people who work in the legal profession. Here are some of the shocking results: 49% think mental health problems and substance abuse are at crisis levels in the legal industry. 36% feel depressed. 69% have anxiety. 28% have another mental health issue. 10% have an alcohol problem. 16% know someone in the legal profession who has died by suicide in the last two years. 15% have contemplated suicide during their legal career. 77% think the legal profession has had a negative effect on their mental health. 66% said their personal relationships have suffered as a result of being a member of the legal profession. Those results are consistent with the results from the previous three years. The attached article contains some additional details regarding some of the reasons for these results (billable hours, inability to disconnect, lack of sleep, client demands, etc). Mindfulness is not a cure-all for these issues, but it can help. There's no inherent reason why practicing law should produce the type of harm reflected in those statistics. It will be hard work, but we can make legal culture more humane. Please share this information with your networks and encourage people to check out the Mindfulness in Law Society -- https://lnkd.in/gS6t9f8K https://lnkd.in/gE2qD4Si

Recently, I have attended a Psychological Counselor conference, During a case study I have met an amazing 32 years aged man. Who have very well academic history and he was placed in a top MNC company, has a good pay and a well settled happy family. Yet to the surprise he has a severe panic attack, anxiety and gone the extreme depression where he is often forgetting his own kid name. When we have analysed the cause, We have found he was always an over-doer and perfectionist for all his past years and even found that he felt guilty for not working harder, much more. Analysing the root cause, He was a hardworker, yet the right appreciation and support was not provided by his company/Team, where he was constantly asked to deliver a work which would be done by 2 persons, due to the insufficient budget of the team to hire resources( That was not his problem though). Also He was constantly criticized and pressured by his upper hierarchy to extend his time, has micromanaging leads, made him to develop the inferiority complex and the result he loss his sleep and now turned into insomniac. And then to the actual surprise the person has recently lay off due to his 3 weeks of medical leave which he took for his mental health treatment. Which results in his current condition also his whole family's mental health disturbed due to his condition now. We often need to remind ourselves that, "There is No Point in running so Hard Leaving your Soul and peace behind." Always believe in yourself and in your skills.Remove yourself from the place where you feel the environment is getting Toxic whether it is a Job/Relationship. There is nothing more important than your health. #mentalhealthmatters

If you notice changes in someone's work or interactions with others that may indicate a mental health problem, you should discuss these with the person. It's important to approach the person, regardless of whether or not work is a contributing factor. But it's important you go about reaching out to them the right way. If you are the person’s manager, consider whether you may be contributing to the person’s mental health problem and if there is a conflict between your management and first aider roles. If the person is in a role that is senior to you and you do not feel you can make the approach, you should consider contacting an impartial, external source of support for advice. If you are in the best position to approach the person: 👉 Make a plan for what to say 👉 Be clear in your own mind about concerning behaviours you have noticed 👉 Find out what resources are available in the workplace to support others 👉 Be familiar with relevant laws and organisational policies and procedures 👉 Think about a time and place to meet that best suits the person 👉 You should have the conversation in an appropriate, neutral and private space - free of any distractions and interruptions For more tips on how to have this conversation, consider attending a Mental Health First Aid course! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthintheworkplace #workplacewellbeing #mhfa #mentalhealthfirstaid