World Mental Health Day falls on 10th October every year. An ongoing reminder that although there is (somewhat) more openness around mental health, the reality is that reducing the stigma does not mean solving the problems. Statistics on mental health in the UK and globally are still staggering. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 1 billion people are living with a mental health disorder*, and in England, 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year.
Mental health in family law
This World Mental Health Day felt extra poignant throughout the legal profession in the wake of the recent release of the Law Care Life in Law Survey 2025. This is the second report released, the first survey having been conducted during the 2020 pandemic and released in 2021. This report is an essential read for those in the legal profession; it gives an important, although perhaps not unsurprising, insight into how the world of law impacts professionals.
The LawCare research shows that many in the profession are under significant strain which increases the risk of us losing members of the profession. The legal sector is renowned for high levels of work intensity and long hours. Early mornings, late nights and last-minute court attendances are contributing to 79% of respondents working over their contracted time. It’s no wonder that nearly 60% reported poor mental wellbeing and 43% said that work significantly impacted their mental health and wellbeing.
The report argues that we are at a turning point in the legal sector: how sustainable is this environment? 56% of people could see themselves leaving their current role within the next five years.
When it comes to family law, there are any number of factors impacting how we feel mentally, both personally and professionally. One can imagine that the vicarious trauma faced by many family lawyers is a significant factor will feed into the high levels of burnout reported in the Life in Law Survey.
Clients are, in so many cases, going through some of the lowest points in their lives. The second-hand impact of this cannot be understated. Lawyers are not counsellors, therapists or GPs, but are often expected to provide these roles for clients. Maintaining boundaries and not crossing lines into work we are not trained for can be difficult. The importance of working closely with divorce coaches and counsellors means we can offer external support for those in need and ensure boundaries are respected, for both the clients and the solicitors.
These issues alongside the findings and recommendations of the Life in Law Survey highlight the importance of ensuring access to resources to support mental wellbeing within the workplace alongside strong leadership promoting the same.
Supportive but firm leadership is crucial. Mentoring and leading by example is an invaluable way to ensure junior colleagues feel supported. In family law, it’s very easy to get carried away by a case, to ensure everything is done to help the client. This can result overworking and burnout – at which point, neither the client nor the lawyer benefits.
World Mental Health Day should not be the only time of year the legal profession reflects on wellbeing in the sector. Leaders within firms should be working with each other, with Mental Health First Aiders, and with HR teams to ensure that everyone has access to the services they need and deserve through the workplace. As society changes, and the responsibilities of lawyers in their roles shifts with it, we cannot sit on our hands. There needs to proactive movement towards protecting colleagues for the long term, including tangible mental health support and proper safeguarding training.
Of course, in supporting ourselves, we can better support clients, signposting them to the resources they need to best support their mental health as they go through one of the most stressful times in their life. We have a responsibility to ensure they have access to all the support that they need.
Rachel Fisher is a Team Leader Partner at Stowe Family Law
*https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up
