Mental Health Resources

Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs) throughout the country provide confidential services and support to judges, lawyers and law students who facing are mental health or substance use issues. To find the lawyers assistance program in your jurisdiction click on link. Please see our resources page for more information. Additionally, by dialing 988, people can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). This provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.

To find the lawyers assistance program in your jurisdiction view directory.

Anxiety

• Coping with Anxiety
• Don't Catastrophize: A Simple 4-Step Exercise to Stay Calm in the Face of Coronavirus Uncertainty
• Short Videos on Coping with Anxiety
• To get free confidential, 24/7 support for anxiety, text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line which is 741741. Learn more
• Science-based strategies for coping with COVID anxiety
• Guided mediation (23 minutes) for dealing with anxiety

Depression

• Depression & Substance Use Dual Diagnosis: article discusses different types of depression, signs and symptoms to look out for, and how substance use may correlate with depression
• Lawyers Depression Project: Online peer-to-peer support for legal professionals

Law Practice Management/Leadership

• COVID-19: Protecting Your Workforce's Wellbeing - Panel discussion to provide employers with insights around what they should be considering when it comes to pandemic preparedness (video)
  
• Covid-19: Awareness, Response, and Workplace Plans/Policies (Part 1)
• Covid-19: Law Firm Operations (Part 2) 
• Covid-19: Serving Clients (Part 3)
  
• Law Practice Management Systems
  
• Mindful Listening: An Interview with Paul Steven Singerman
  
• Prioritizing in a Pandemic for Law Firms (video)
• Remote Working: Setting Yourself and Your Teams Up for Success
• Supporting Your Lawyers' Mental Health
• What Law Firms Can Do to Promote Mental Health for Their Lawyers
  
• This article discusses organizational leadership and managing COVID-19 panic.  Read article
• Here are tips for working remotely from Fast Company: View tips. 

Panic

• This article shares specifics about mental health and panic associated with COVID-19.  Read article

Social Distancing

• Coping mentally with social distancing, isolation and quarantine (4 page flyer from SAMHSA)

Staying Mentally Healthy

• Action for Happiness Coping Calendar
• Challenges for mental health and coping mechanisms during COVID-19 are outlined by the CDC
• Coping with Fear and Panic
• Daily, Free Guided Meditations
• Dealing with the grief over losses, cancellations, etc.
• Easy Ways to Integrate Self-Care into Your Daily Life
• Emotions Anonymous: "An international fellowship of people who desire to have a better sense of emotional well-being" (online weekly meetings available)
• For Parents – Give Yourself Permission to Recharge  
• Free Meditations: Oprah & Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience on Finding Hope in Uncertain Times (20-25 min daily sessions) Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (45 min daily sessions)
• During these uncertain times, legal employers can benefit from intentionally building opportunities for employees to connect as part of their COVID-19 response plan. Learn more from Gallagher Global Innovation Leader, Organizational Wellbeing, Kathleen Schulz in this article, “COVID-19 and Emotional Wellbeing.”
  
• How Sleep Affects Your Mental Health
• How the Wisdom of 12-Step Programs Can Help Get Us Through April
• Mental Health Tips for Working Remotely
• The Benefits of Mindfulness
• Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Wellness
• Mindfulness in Law Society’s free online resources:
  including Mindful Mondays, a free virtual guided meditation session each week
• Positive Psychology Strategies for Dealing with a Crisis (The Crisis Kit)
• Great tips for staying mentally healthy  
• Find tips for managing our mental health in troubling times 
  
• Suggestions for taking care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• National Association for the Mentally Ill Online Support Groups
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
  

Stress

• This article provides tips on managing stress levels in the office. Read article
• Coping with Stress (4 page flyer from SAMHSA)

Substance Use Resources

• AA
•  AA – Online
• AA COVID-19 Informational Page
• Al-Anon
• Al-Anon – Online
• IDAA
• In the Rooms
• In The Rooms: An Online Addiction Recovery Community AA, NA, Dual Diagnosis, SAA (sex addiction), CPA (chronic pain)
• NA – Online
• NA Online Meetings “Addicts helping Addicts Recover" 
• NA COVID-19 Informational Page
• Online Support Group meetings
• Podcast: Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in the Legal Profession
• Recovery Dharma: "Healing from Addiction with Buddhist Practice", daily meetings via computer, smartphone or dial-in
• Smart Recovery
• Staying Sober During Covid-19
• Author Brian Cuban’s blog “The Addicted Lawyer” offers guidance and options for recovery meetings.
• Importance of seeking help for mental health and substance use disorders - Fear Not: Speaking Out to End Stigma (three minute video)

Suicide

Free, confidential 24/7 support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for oneself and others Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

Law Student Resources 

• Coronavirus resources and information for law students

Other

• 9 Totally Free At-Home Workouts for when COVID-19 is Keeping You Inside

Visit the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs’ website for additional information and resources about mental health and substance use.