Wellness of the Legal Profession

Advancing Mental Health and Wellness in the Canadian Legal Profession: Phase II of the National Study

The mental health and wellness of legal professionals in Canada is a critical concern.

Phase II of the National Study on the Psychological Health Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada builds on the findings from Phase I, which revealed high levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and burnout, particularly among younger professionals, women, and those from marginalized groups. The newly released Omnibus Report consolidates insights from both phases of the national study and highlights the urgent need for systemic changes. Recommendations addressing regional differences are available to guide actionable steps at individual, organizational, and regulatory levels.

In 2019, the Federation’s annual conference highlighted a lack of well-being in the legal professions. Feedback from the event and a Quebec study on lawyer well-being underscored the need for a national study.

Phase I laid the groundwork by identifying the scope of mental health and wellness challenges within the legal professions and exploring the causes of substance use and poor health outcomes. The Phase I Report, along with an Executive Summary, Detailed Recommendations, and FAQs, were published in 2022. You can also watch Dr. Nathalie Cadieux’s presentation of the study results at the Federation’s 2022 annual conference here.

The Federation of Law Societies of Canada remains committed to driving meaningful change to support the mental health and wellness of legal professionals. The full Omnibus Report for Phase II and provincial/territorial reports, are available here.