Full of the joys of spring?

Article from LawCare highlighting the need for support and understanding by employers for those suffering from depression

The Journal, May 2008, page 21

With light nights, flowers in bloom and the summer holidays on the horizon, spring is usually a time for optimism. But for some people, the dark chill of winter is not something that lifts with the start of the cricket season.

Indeed for those unfortunate enough to suffer from prolonged stress, or depression, the joys of spring can deepen their sense of isolation, hopelessness and despair. Those little things that lift most hearts can have the opposite effect on those who are struggling with stressful/ depressive aspects in their life.

The onset of spring can bring its own strains. The approach of holidays, and the seemingly constant interruption of bank holidays, mean that work can pile up at the same time as pressure increases to comply with deadlines and make suitable arrangements for the break. For conveyancers, the period immediately after the Easter househunting peak can be their busiest time of year.

At home, older children will be facing the trauma of exam time, and for parents who are busy dealing with their own pressures, it can be difficult to find the time to stop and think about what their children are going through. Younger children may also have more activities, demanding more commitments from parents in ferrying them around, placing an even greater premium on already limited spare time.

Something deeper

Depression however is not the same thing as feeling down or having that Monday morning feeling. It is an illness, just as heart disease and diabetes are illnesses – and one in five people will suffer it at some time in their life.

Although as many as one in 20 workers suffer from some sort of depressive illness, 75% of them try to hide it from employers, line managers and colleagues, such is the perceived social stigma.

Unfortunately, more and more employees are finding that their history of mental illness and/or addiction becomes a barrier to employment. Despite the fact that it is illegal to discriminate on grounds of mental health, 47% of people with past mental health problems report that they have experienced discrimination and difficulty getting a job because of them.

In a recent survey, 200 managers were asked to assess the employment prospects of two (fictional) job applicants. The applications were identical except that one applicant had diabetes, and one had recovered from depression. The applicant who had recovered from depression was seen as “significantly less employable” than the diabetic. Statistics bear this out: 33% of people with long term health problems such as diabetes and MS are in employment, as against only 13% of those with mental health problems.

Fear of the unknown

Employers are naturally wary of what they do not know or understand. In today’s competitive and strictly regulated profession, they need to be certain that their staff are reliable and competent. A better understanding of certain health issues on their part could benefit hundreds of lawyers who find themselves regarded with suspicion because of past problems. Those suffering from, or recently recovered from, depression or other mental illnesses need to be treated with fairness and understanding, and given every opportunity to rebuild their lives and careers.

What should I look out for?

• Absenteeism;
• Falling productivity;
• Indecision;
• Bad decisions;
• Poor morale and uncharacteristic lack of cooperation;
• Complaints of aches, pains or tiredness on a regular basis;
• Disruptive, interfering or domineering behaviour;
• Alcohol or drug abuse,

are just some of the indicators. Encourage those concerned to seek help initially from their GP. Modern anti-depressant drugs are very effective, especially if used in conjunction with counselling.

Depression can be successfully treated in more than 80% of cases.

It has widely been accepted for a number of years that unacknowledged or untreated stress, depression and addictive illnesses are significant factors in disciplinary matters, negligence claims and claims on the compensation fund. Such conditions destroy careers, affect the image of the profession and lead to misery for the affected lawyers and their families, not to mention the problems created for their professional colleagues and clients.

LawCare: free, confidential help

LawCare offers health support and advice to solicitors, their families and colleagues suffering problems which are interfering with or have the potential to interfere with work performance and/or family life.

The freephone helpline is entirely confidential and is available by calling 0800 279 6869, 9am-7.30pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm weekends and bank holidays.

Callers to the helpline can be put in touch with professional counsellors or treatment centres and provided with written information about their impairment. There is also a network of lawyer volunteers who have recovered from such problems and are available to befriend and support suffering lawyers.

A secondary purpose is to inform and educate the legal profession generally on the causes and consequences of such problems and how to seek help for themselves and their colleagues. Consequently, free* CPD-accredited seminars are available dealing with stress recognition and management, to help prevent the problems caused by disillusioned staff. For details about these, email: admin@lawcare.org.uk .