WELLBEING
Wellbeing and mental health affect us all, whether we need support or we are the ones to offer it. It has become an important topic of conversation in recent years, and how we understand it can vary. Wellbeing is here used to mean how well we cope with day-to-day life, with all its stresses and demands.
Working at the Bar is a difficult and demanding job. It has no set hours, it is unpredictable and often thankless. It is a hard job for family and friends to understand, which can make it challenging for them to offer support when it’s needed. When that job is coupled with caring for young families, aging parents, or any other people who need our support, or undertaking other responsibilities we have assumed, it can seem like the easiest thing to do is to put ourselves to the back of the queue. The discussion of a ‘work/life balance’ is usually met with a derisory snort by members of the Bar.
Our own wellbeing is just as important as that of everyone else. For a long time, it has been something that has not been talked about openly within the profession, with some fearing that admitting they are struggling would be seen as a sign of weakness. The tide is beginning to turn with new initiatives that are being created, but there is still a long way to go. We need to take responsibility for our own wellbeing. It is an aspect of keeping ourselves healthy that is of vital importance, because unless we can keep ourselves well, we will find it so much harder to do our job and to meet all the other expectations placed on us. That can sometimes mean doing less to be able to do more.
If you feel you are struggling, you are not alone. We all do at times. Talking is the first step to finding a solution. So often, sharing a problem and finding out that you are not the only one experiencing it can make all the difference. Knowing where to start can be daunting and can put some off starting. If you find yourself in that position, talk to people in chambers and see if there is anyone who has taken responsibility for wellbeing. Talk to barristers from other chambers if you prefer and see if they have any arrangements – you might find talking to someone who is further away from you is easier. If you’d rather not talk to anyone you know, then there are some links below for people you can talk to in confidence to share your concerns.
Even if we feel that we are managing our own lives well, we can help others if we think they might be struggling. The information on the websites below is a great starting point to tackle all sorts of issues that come up in our work lives. If you are aware of any other useful resources, please let us know so that we can include them here.
Resources
https://www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk – a website developed by the Bar Council specifically designed to address the challenges of working at the Bar
https://www.lawcare.org.uk – a mental health charity aimed at lawyers, judges and their families. Offers peer support, a free helpline and online chat
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/wellbeing/ - general information and advice to support wellbeing from Mind, an established mental health charity
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/ - general information and advice about supporting wellbeing from the NHS
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09by3yy - Programme page for the BBC Radio 4 programme “Just One Thing” by Dr Michael Moseley. Dr Moseley considers different things that are suggested to improve life and wellbeing and challenges listeners to use them for a week and look at the difference.
cardiffwellbeingcommittee@justice.gov.uk – email address to contact the Wellbeing Committee for the South East Wales Family Courts to raise any issues impacting on wellbeing.