It’s not news to us that mental health in the legal industry isn’t stellar, but maybe what should be news is how lawyers can, and should, be making a more concerted effort to improve it in small ways. Because they can, and maybe in some regards it’s easier to do than we’ve thought. Maybe, just showing genuine appreciation for colleagues’ work, effort, and dedication can make noticeable shifts. It’s time we all try it. There’s nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain.

Lawyer mental health and the overstressed, overworked and under appreciated nature of the profession were again in the news last month. The American Lawyer reported on the results of its fifth annual Mental Health Survey and the results are, unfortunately, exactly what most lawyers would expect. Grim. Many of these are big problems and big problems don’t have easy fixes.