WHAT Is MENTAL HEALTH ANYWAY?
Ringing in the New Year holds more meaning to people than just the typical new year celebrations. It is a new beginning. It is a time for people to reexamine how they may have spent their year, reflecting on health issues, work issues or social issues. They view the new year as a time to wipe the proverbial slate clean and improve the quality of life. Here are some important tips to remember when planning your New Year’s Resolutions.
Given that practicing law is generally highly stressful , and studies consistently show that attorneys have much higher rates of suicide, depression, anxiety-related disorders, alcoholism and substance abuse than the general populace, 1 what does it really mean for an attorney to be mentally and emotionally healthy? There are several possible answers to this important question. The following is a good one to remember.
Dr. Michael R. Winters, Associate Director of the Rice University Counseling Center, notes that mental health is a difficult concept to define. However, he notes that several studies point out areas shared by people who are happy, productive, and socially effective. In answering the question, “What is mental health?”, Dr. Winters points to the following four characteristics:
- Quality social relations-mentally healthy individuals generally have excellent relations with a variety of other people. Often this includes an intimate partner, but not always. If one has a wide enough circle of supportive friends and family (a quality support system), a partner is not necessary to meet this requirement.
- Flexible problem solving ability- mentally healthy people do not always have to have things their way. If plans or circumstances change, a healthy person is able to adapt re latively quickly and easily to the unexpected situation.
- Grounded belief system-mentally healthy people generally have a good sense of their place in the world and their world view. For some, this may take the form of organized religion. For others, it may be a cause of idea that they believe is important. Having a grounded belief system connects one with others and the larger universe.
- Positive self image-mentally healthy people believe they are of value. The feeling of value typically comes from within the person, rather than from external sources. If one derives his or her value from others opinions, then one is constantly dependent on others. Because their self image is internal, healthy people are generally not dependent on drugs, alcohol or other sources of external reinforcement (sex, a particular relationship, etc.).
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If you’re well grounded in these four areas, chances are you are doing fine and the demands of practicing law have not negatively influenced your emotional and mental well-being.
1 The material selected was originally published in The Houston Lawyer, Vol. 35, No. 6, May/June 1998. Reprinted with permission © The Houston Lawver.