Simon Gerrard, Partner and Head of Insolvency at Prosperity Law LLP, shares his insights into the mental health challenges faced in the legal industry, as well as his tips for maintaining a healthy frame of mind.
It is no secret that many in the legal profession will suffer from poor mental health at some point during their career, we must shine a light on this issue to bring about positive change within the industry and to support mental health charities to enable them to help people in their time of need.
In a year dominated by you know what, the issue of mental health has, to some extent, gone under the radar; however, given the trials and tribulations of this past year, mental health has never been more of an issue. In seeking to learn more about issues surrounding poor mental health, the following statistics really stood out to me:
- 1 in 4 of all people in England will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year; and
- even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were over 6,000 suicides in the UK each year and 800,000 worldwide.
These statistics simply cannot be ignored.
By no means would I consider myself a mental health expert; however, as someone who has come through their fair share of adversity over the years, I consider that I am well-placed to share my own experiences of combatting mental health issues. Here are some of my top tips for maintaining a healthy frame of mind:
- Exercise | Regular exercise is a critical part of maintaining a healthy mindset – ‘healthy body, healthy mind’. Adopting a simple regime of running or cycling a couple of times a week will make a huge difference to your frame of mind.
- Healthy diet | As someone who polished off a Domino’s pizza over the weekend, I am in no position to advocate eating salads every day. That being said, a balanced diet can make a huge difference to your mental health. Some people are prone to over or under eating when they are stressed – either case can harm your state of mind. Some great apps, such as MyFitnessPal, can help you regulate what you’re eating and help you maintain a well-balanced diet.
- Music | My secret weapon. Music is such a powerful tool when it comes to managing your mood. If I’m feeling a little bit low or tired and need a boost, music is always the answer. If I’m feeling a little bit stressed or overwhelmed, music helps me to get into a clear, calm frame of mind.
- Education | In my experience, the genesis of most things in life that cause us stress or anxiety is the fear of the unknown. This applies to mental health issues – hence why it is so important that we raise awareness for mental health charities and support. In bouts of stress or anxiety, it is not uncommon to go into a tailspin because you do not know what it is that’s causing your body and your mind to feel this way. Learning about how mental health issues impact your mood can help you to understand why you’re feeling a certain way. Armed with this knowledge, you will be better equipped to manage the experience and recognise the trigger points in the future.
Embracing Adversity
At some point in life, we will be faced with adversity. It is, unfortunately, a fact of life that we must go through difficult experiences – but it need not necessarily be an entirely negative event. Adversity can be a powerful thing. When approached in the right frame of mind, adversity can teach us more about ourselves, and it can make us stronger and better equipped to withstand life’s challenges.
When faced with adversity in my own life, I have always found this quote from one of the world’s most renowned psychiatrists, Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Holocaust, to be particularly inspirational:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
I encourage any reader to take a moment to digest the above passage. The mind can be a fragile thing, particularly when you’re going through a period of poor mental health; however, it is your single, most powerful tool in overcoming your struggles.
Speak Up
My final parting comment is to encourage anyone who is suffering from poor mental health to speak up. Taking the first step of seeking help can be hard – it does take a great deal of courage – but you’ll find that mental health is no longer the taboo subject that it once was.
As a society, we are far more accepting and compassionate. There are many fantastic organisations out there that can help you overcome your challenges and achieve a better quality of life.
Please help us to raise awareness and funds to support better mental health
For Mental Health Awareness Week (10 – 16 May 2021), my colleagues and I will be running 5k per day to raise awareness of and donations for the fantastic mental health charity, Manchester Mind.
We will be running a collective 315k over 7 days and aim to raise over £1,500. We are well on our way to our target, but we need your help to get us over the line! To donate, please click here.
If you are in need of support, the team at Manchester Mind can help you figure out where to start – you can contact the team here.
For more information on the support services available, full detail is provided by the NHS.
