Mental illness is one of the most important issues for law students, and we don’t mean the type you need to spot on your exam. If you haven’t been affected by it, it is most likely you know someone who is.
The 2007 Beaton Consulting and beyondblue national depression initiative revealed that lawyers and law students have alarming rates of mental illness and symptoms. When compared to other professions, lawyers experienced the highest incidence of depressive symptoms. Respondents from law firms were also the most likely to use alcohol or other drugs to reduce or manage their symptoms. (Law Council of Australia)
“Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the deaths of more young people than car accidents: 324 Australians aged 15-24 are dying by suicide in 2012. This compares to 198 (6.4 per 100,000) who died in car accidents (the second highest killer).” (beyondblue)
This is not something to brush under the carpet and laugh off. The time to start looking after yourself is right now. This website is a compilation of resources to help you balance your studies with a consideration for your mental health. In it, you will find honest stories, articles, interviews and a host of other content to help support your studies and your wellbeing.
Whilst much of the information contained in this website is related to Monash University, it is by no means exclusionary of students from other disciplines and other universities. Mental illness is a societal issue and we have tried to make our material accessible, however, there is a focus on the experience of law students.
You are worth more than your grades, or what firm you clerk at, or how many application rejections you’ve received. You are how many smiles you’ve enjoyed with friends, you are how much you’ve struggled through and how far you’ve come. On behalf of everyone on the team, we wish you well in your studies and whatever you do afterward. We hope that you connect with something valuable on this website. If you wish to share your story with us, please get in contact.
Christian Lane (Co-founder)
