Welcome to Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession, a national self-learning program designed to provide Canadian lawyers, judges and law students education, supports and resources to assist them in understanding mental health and addiction issues. In this program, you will acquire knowledge about mood disorders, causes, symptoms and treatment options, fostering positive prevention strategies, treatment and recovery strategies for depression, anxiety, addiction and stress, reducing stigmatizing behaviours, attitudes and effects, and offering support and resources for recovery and the maintenance of wellness. All of this is specifically formulated and tailored to the needs and issues facing legal professionals and their families.

Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession was created as a result of a proactive and dynamic partnership between the Canadian Bar Association, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and Bell Let's Talk. It is the hope of these sponsors, as well as the drafters of this program, that participants will not only expand their own knowledge of these issues, but will then contribute to the building of a culture of wellness and self-care throughout the legal profession in Canada.

After completing this course you will be able to:

1. Recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and addiction challenges;
2. Describe stigma, both generally and with specific reference to the legal profession context;
3. Outline available treatment options and other resources; and
4. Discuss proactive and remedial coping strategies for those with mental health and addiction challenges.

This project was funded by unrestricted educational grant from the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, Bell Let's Talk, and the Canadian Bar Association. Financial support was also provided by a number of law societies across Canada, see the Acknowledgements (page 4) of the course for full details.

This program is accredited in all Canadian jurisdictions.

• Professionalism hours in Newfoundland = 3 hours
• Professionalism hours in Nunavut = 4 hours
  
• Professionalism hours in all other jurisdictions = 6 hours*