Please find below the NSBS answers to When the Advocate Needs an Advocate — Supporting Lawyers Experiencing Mental Health Challenges.
Be sure to review the full scenario before reading the answers.
Questions:
- Why might lawyers hesitate to disclose mental health challenges?
- Did Priya respond appropriately to Jordan’s concerns? Why?
- Why can open and supportive questions be important when a colleague appears to be struggling?
- What responsibilities do law firms and legal organizations have when a lawyer is struggling?
- What resources are available to support lawyers experiencing mental health challenges in Nova Scotia?
Answers:
1. Why might lawyers hesitate to disclose mental health challenges?
Lawyers may fear stigma, damage to their reputation, concerns about competence, career impacts, or being perceived as unable to handle the pressures of practice. A culture that values perfectionism and self-reliance can make seeking help feel like a weakness rather than a responsible professional choice.
2. Did Priya respond appropriately to Jordan’s concerns? Why?
Yes. Priya approached Jordan with compassion, avoided assumptions, listened actively, and created space for an honest conversation. She also recognized that expressions of hopelessness should be taken seriously and asked directly about safety.
3. Why can open and supportive questions be important when a colleague appears to be struggling?
Open-ended questions can give someone an opportunity to speak about what they are experiencing without feeling pressured, judged, or labelled. Questions such as “How are you doing?” or “Is there anything I can do to support you?” allow the individual to guide the conversation and identify what support, if any, they are comfortable receiving. Colleagues do not need to diagnose or resolve another person’s mental health challenges; they can listen, respond with empathy, and help connect them with appropriate supports.
4. What responsibilities do law firms and legal organizations have when a lawyer is struggling?
Firms have a responsibility to create psychologically safe workplaces, reduce stigma, support lawyer wellness, and respond appropriately when concerns arise. The firm also has a duty to accommodate to the point of undue hardship. Supporting lawyers also promotes competent legal services and public confidence in the profession.
5. What resources are available to support lawyers experiencing mental health challenges in Nova Scotia?
Resources include:
- Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP): Confidential counselling and support services for lawyers, law students, articled clerks, and their families.
- Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Services: Crisis support and referrals for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
- Workplace wellness supports and professional healthcare providers
Resources Available to Nova Scotia Lawyers
Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP)
The Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program provides confidential counselling, referrals, and wellness supports for practising lawyers, law students, articled clerks, staff, and their families who are experiencing personal or professional challenges. Services are available 24 hours a day. (NSLAP)
NSLAP Contact:
1-866-299-1299
Confidential support available 24/7. (NSLAP)
Support may include assistance with:
- Stress and burnout
- Anxiety and depression
- Grief and trauma
- Substance use concerns
- Relationship and family challenges
- Workplace difficulties
- Crisis management (Canadian Bar Association)
Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Supports
Nova Scotia provides crisis and mental health supports for individuals experiencing mental health concerns, including urgent crisis intervention. The province’s resources include crisis lines, mental health intake services, and community supports. (Government of Nova Scotia)
Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line:
1-888-429-8167 (Government of Nova Scotia)
Mi’kmaq and culturally specific resources in Nova Scotia
1. Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq – Mental Wellness Team
The Mental Wellness Team provides case management and service navigation for First Nations people of all ages and works collaboratively with community and provincial services. Supports include anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD, stress, substance use and other mental-health concerns.
Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Mental Wellness Team
2. Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS)
EMHS provides culturally appropriate, community-based and community-led mental-health and addictions services for Mi’kmaq people in Eskasoni. Services span children, youth, adults and seniors and include counselling, crisis support, addictions services, social work and other wellness support.
Eskasoni Health Centre – Services
3. Eskasoni Crisis Centre
This is particularly notable because it provides 24/7 crisis services, including crisis intervention, referrals, case management and supportive programming. The centre identifies its services as available in Mi’kmaw and English.
The current Eskasoni Health Centre information lists the Crisis Centre at 902-379-2099, open 24/7.
4. Indigenous-wide resources that may also be useful
Hope for Wellness Help Line is available specifically for Indigenous people across Canada. It provides 24/7 telephone support at 1-855-242-3310, with English and French service and, upon request, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
African Nova Scotian culturally specific resources in Nova Scotia
1. Black Community Support Helpline: Call 1-855-732-1253 (ext. 2) for resource navigation and support tailored to individuals of African descent across Nova Scotia (messages are returned within 24 hours).
2. Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative: A free health program for Black men providing primary care, mental health support (social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists), and peer groups. https://www.nshealth.ca/nova-scotia-brotherhood
3. Nova Scotia Sisterhood: A free, culturally competent health care program for Black women and gender-diverse individuals aged 19 and older, offering clinical therapy and medical support. https://www.nshealth.ca/nova-scotia-sisterhood
4. IWK African Nova Scotian Service (ANSS): Provides individual and family mental health and addiction services, treatment groups, and community outreach for children and youth up to age 19. https://iwkhealth.ca/clinics-programs-services/african-nova-scotian-service