Reaching out in stressful times

Lawyers are no stranger to a high-pressure, stressful work environment. The nature and responsibilities of the legal profession often lead to increased strain on their mental health, and that of their families and staff. As the ripple effects of the pandemic continue to impact us all, both professionally and personally, more and more people are reaching out for aid to deal with the added stress and anxiety of daily life.

Here in Nova Scotia, the Lawyers’ Insurance Association of Nova Scotia (LIANS) and the Barristers’ Society provide the Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP), an accessible, easy way to get the help they may need. While the NSLAP predates COVID-19 by many years, the service is uniquely suited to meet the requirements of a socially distanced world.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the program’s usage rates have noticeably gone up,” says Lawrence Rubin, director of insurance with LIANS. “There has been an uptick. However, I would say that the issues that people are facing aren’t always caused by the pandemic, but COVID has exacerbated the stress for a lot of people.”

NSLAP is a free referral and short-term counselling service accessible to lawyers, their families and staff. A confidential telephone call to NSLAP’s service provider, Homewood Health, will put you in touch with trained professionals who can assist with diverse topics like financial stress, family problems, career development and addiction. The service is available 24 hours per day and is generally meant to proceed through the course of three to five sessions.

According to Rubin, the ability to access counseling at no cost is a fundamental component of NSLAP. Lawyers may often be able to seek out assistance through other channels, but the ease of accessing the service means reducing potential barriers to care.

“What I will often say to lawyers is ‘you already paid for it [as a very small part of your Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society dues], so why not use it when you need it’?” Rubin says. “Often, people will avoid getting help when they need it, so it’s important that it’s there.”

While it may be possible to be matched with a local service provider who is willing to meet in person, one of the features of NSLAP is the ability to access a nationwide network of mental health professionals. 

“One of the issues we found pre-pandemic was that a lot of people weren’t comfortable with talking over the phone and doing virtual sessions,” says Rubin. “Considering now that in-person stuff has dropped to zero, a lot of providers have gone to virtual or phone service. People who may have discounted the service before may be more inclined to use it now because they’re better accustomed to virtual services.”

In addition to the counseling services, LIANS also facilitates peer mentorship, where experienced members of the profession volunteer to answer questions about the difficulties of juggling personal and professional responsibilities. For Rubin, the ability to help, and be available to, our fellow lawyers wherever possible is key to the profession’s success.

“I think we have a collective responsibility to help one another out,” he says. “Whether it’s just picking up the phone and asking somebody what’s going on, or checking in on our colleagues…we all have a responsibility to each other.”

NSLAP Assistance is available 24/7 by calling 1-866-299-1299.