COVID-19 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 view directory.

Anxiety

• Coping with Anxiety
• 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 meditation (23 minutes) for dealing with anxiety
  

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

• 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
• How Sleep Affects Your Mental Health
• 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

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