MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--R3 Continuum, a workplace behavioral health company specializing in helping people and organizations thrive in the face of disruption, is tackling the concerning mental health crisis among individuals in legal professions through new services and a guidebook. According to the Institute for Well-Being in Law, lawyers rank eighth in a study of suicide by occupation and experience higher than typical levels of depression, anxiety, and substance use.
“During challenging times, we often turn to legal professionals. Yet, given the extraordinary demands on partners and attorneys, these professionals face their own struggles, and need customized mental wellness support,” said Jim Mortensen, president, R3 Continuum. “R3’s team of clinicians and behavioral mental wellness experts provide law firms with proactive, confidential support that equips leaders and partners with the right resources to overcome challenges before they become insurmountable.”
This is a critical moment for the legal profession. While the industry has always been high-stress, more evidence is showcasing the impact of demands on law firm leader populations. Consider:
- 28% of lawyers experienced depression at some point in their careers.
- 46% of lawyers experienced symptoms of burnout at some point in their careers.
- 60% of lawyers under the age of 30 reported problems with anxiety.
To manage these and other clinical or behavioral struggles, many have turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms or taken drastic measures:
- Lawyers have higher rates of alcohol use disorders (20.6%) than the general population (9.2%).
- Lawyers die by suicide rates 1.33 to 2.33 times higher than the general population.
R3’s counseling and coaching services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the legal industry, including:
- Rapid, convenient deployment of services: When a workforce is struggling, the last thing that’s needed is a long and arduous implementation process. A discovery call with R3 will match an individual with a provider in eight hours. And within a day of matching, a clinician will reach out directly.
- Expert clinicians and coaches: Seasoned clinicians and coaches with deep and specific experience in fast-paced and high-pressure work environments have the knowledge and skills to help legal professionals handle the unique stressors of their industry and their individual roles.
- Flexible, tailored support: The long and unpredictable hours of the legal profession can make it feel impossible to fit wellness support into the day, but with flexible schedules that evolve to meet these demands, R3 provides individuals with support when and how it's needed.
- Results-driven: When counselors or coaches don’t have a mechanism to show measurable results, it’s difficult to know if individuals are receiving the support they need. R3 delivers on outcomes and satisfaction, including a Net Promoter Score, to give law firms valuable, but confidential, insights into the needs and improvements experienced by their workforce.
- Scalable and adaptable: No matter the size and scope of the firm, legal professionals–including attorneys and partners–need to attend to their mental wellness and wellbeing. R3 tailors services to meet the needs of a few individuals or every attorney within the firm. Support is also available to employees’ family members should the need arise. Whether the firm is just beginning to develop a wellness program or looking to expand existing offerings, R3 can help.
Law firms can work directly with R3 to design a custom program tailored to legal leaders and teams, including immediate counseling, trauma response and partner readiness coaching. Privacy and confidentiality are protected, and HR leaders can access anonymous aggregated insights on workplace mental health trends to inform improvements.
Law firms are recognizing the massive human toll persistent mental wellness struggles create and the resulting impact on the practice. A lack of support can reduce employee engagement and productivity in the short term or have disastrous results when ignored. When many firms are instituting wellness policies, it can leave others at a disadvantage in the competition for talent. In an ever-competitive legal environment, the cost of doing nothing is far too great. To read more about how proactive resources can help, download our guide to Implementing Mental Wellness Counseling and Performance Coaching for Legal Professionals.
About R3 Continuum
R3 is a leader in behavioral health solutions for workplace well-being, helping large and small companies strengthen engagement and retention and improve business outcomes through proactive, customized services for leaders. R3 also provides behavioral health support in response to workplace disruptions such as employee death, mass layoffs, and natural disasters. R3 supports at all levels of an organization simultaneously and at scale to promote workplace wellbeing and performance in the face of an ever-changing and often unpredictable world. Visit R3’s website and watch the overview video to learn more.
