Dear Member
In my first Magazine column as President, I asked for your help in building a picture of the mental health of our members and those working in legal services in our region. We know from the work of the Junior Lawyers Division and others that there are significant issues in managing stress and mental health generally across the profession. If those issues are equally at play locally, then we should take the opportunity to tackle them together.
As a Society there are numerous ways in which we can help by arranging training, workshops, speakers and support. Alternatively, if it is true that we are able to enjoy a better work life balance on the south coast, and the steps taken by local firms to manage stress are having an impact, then we may have something to celebrate within our businesses and should take the time to do so. One may imagine there exists a mixture of both, but there is only one way to know for sure and that is to ask the question. Our first wellness and resilience survey is now open, is of course anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete.
To take part, please click the link here:-
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7CZLK23
The survey is open to non-members and to non-lawyers working within a regulated firm within our region so please invite all of your colleagues to take part.
As a reminder, there are a number of organisations who can help if you are suffering from stress or mental health issues including Dorset Mind, LawCare and the Solicitors Benevolent Association. As a thank you for taking part in the survey, the Society will be making a small donation to each of these charities and the final question within the survey will ask for your preference as to which should receive the largest donation. Votes will be counted when the survey closes on Monday 30 September. Advice from the Law Society, together with the contact details for these organisations, can be found here:-
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/law-careers/career-progression/stress-and-mental-health/
Thank you for your support!
Mark Kiteley
President
Bournemouth & District Law Society
Borough Chambers
Fir Vale Road
Bournemouth BH1 2JJ
Tel: 01202 587551