Wellness
Lawyers are exposed to high levels of stress on a daily basis. In the long term, stress can drive people to use, misuse or even become addicted to alcohol or legal/illegal drugs, or to experience challenges to physical or mental health. Stress and the problems it creates are contributing factors in many LAWPRO claims.
LAWPRO encourages lawyers to take steps to manage stress, and to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing difficulties, confidential help is available from the Law Society’s Member Assistance Program (“MAP”) at homeweb.ca/map. The MAP provides confidential assistance to Ontario lawyers, paralegals, judges, students at Ontario law schools and accredited paralegal colleges, licensing-process candidates, and their families. The MAP, which is operated by Homewood Health™, receives financial, arm’s-length support from the Law Society of Ontario and LAWPRO.
MAP services are multilingual and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in a variety of convenient formats and without the need of a referral. You can access services:
- Online by visiting the protected Member Area of the MAP website (myassistplan.com)
- Over the phone by calling MAP
- Face-to-face counselling and coaching services.
The Ontario government has a mental health web page that has grouped a wide variety of resources including those for youth, indigenous people and the workplace.
All of LAWPRO’s magazine articles and resources on the topic of wellness can be found here.
LAWPRO also offers free CPDs, some of which address wellness-related issue and qualify for LSO professionalism hours and the LAWPRO risk management credit. The full list of programs can be found here.