For more information and to register please visit the Forum website at http://www.adrforum2012.com/.

NSW Young Lawyers invites you to attend the launch of our Mental Health Website.

Join the leaders of NSW Young Lawyers, members of the legal profession and associations dedicated to mental health, to view this new resource for young legal practitioners and students and bring greater awareness to the growing issue of mental health in our profession.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Venue: The Law Society of NSW
Level 3 Training Room, 170 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Time: 6.00 for 6.30pm

RSVP: By Thursday 3 November 2011 to Denise Cheng
(02 9926 0269 or denise.cheng@lawsociety.com.au)

Places are limited

The panelists included:

Gareth Bennett, National HR Director, Freehills
Alex Boxsell, Legal Affairs Editor, Australian Financial Review
Dr Michael Diamond, Psychiatrist
Bruce Humphrys, Managing Partner, HopgoodGanim
Nigel McBride, Managing Partner, Minter Ellison (Adelaide/Darwin)
Patricia (Trish) McDonald SC, Selborne Chambers
Damian Sturzaker, Partner, Marque Lawyers

When discussing the purpose of the annual lecture, Marie Jepson, Foundation member said, “Research continues to show that the incidence of moderate or severe depression is 50% higher in lawyers than in any other profession. We hope to continue to educate and raise awareness about this problem through our lecture, while helping to find strategies to improve the lives of those working in the legal industry.”

Julie McCrossin, known for her dynamic, engaging and candid facilitation style, will be joined by an impressive line up of panellists including: Gareth Bennett, HR Director Freehills, Bruce Humphrys, Managing Partner, HopgoodGanim, Nigel McBride, Managing Partner, Minter Ellison (Adelaide and Darwin), Dr Michael Diamond, Psychiatrist, Trish McDonald SC, Selborne Chambers, Damian Sturzaker, Partner, Marque Lawyers and Alex Boxsell, Legal Affairs Editor, Australian Financial Review.

The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation was established in memory of Marie and George Jepson’s son, Tristan, a former University of NSW law student, young lawyer and comedian. Tristan suffered from severe clinical depression and took his own life, just four weeks after his 26th birthday in 2004.

Since the Foundation’s inception in 2008, the legal profession has continued to grapple with high instances of anxiety, depression and suicide. In an attempt to address this, the Foundation is strongly advocating to build mental health awareness into the ongoing professional requirements of lawyers.

“The statistics are shocking and speak for themselves. Without changing the way mental health is perceived and addressed in the profession it is unlikely we will see any positive change in these figures,” added Marie Jepson.

For the first time the lecture will be telecast live from Sydney into venues in South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT, where attendees will be able to participate in the stimulating discussion via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. While the lecture is expected to attract all members of the profession at varying stages in their career, the Foundation has advocated strongly for student bodies to raise awareness about the challenges that transpire with working in the legal profession.

It may come as a surprise, but lawyers are not the only individuals in the legal industry who may develop health issues from leading the highly stressed lifestyle of legal practice. Recent studies (conducted by the University of Sydney’s Sydney Brain and Mind Research Institute in 2008) show that law students have the highest incidence of distress and anxiety issues amongst their peers, at a rate of 41%. The statistic becomes even more alarming when one considers that this was a result of studying law and did not exist prior to commencement of tertiary studies.

The study shows we law students are a competitive, high-achieving bunch of perfectionists who appear to be entering law usually to please others (whether parents, our friends or the community) rather than ourselves. As a typical “lone wolf” scenario, we are also some of the least likely to share their issues or to seek help. So, if one in three of each experiences high or very high levels of anxiety, stress or depression what can we do to help our peers and more importantly, help ourselves?

The LSS is hosting a Mental Health Breakfast Forum for all UTS:LAW students, at which you can gain awareness and insight into this most serious of issues currently facing the health and wellbeing of those in the legal industry, but also receive the practical tools necessary to put yourself in a better physical, emotional, psychological and ultimately mental state, in order to combat mental health issues for yourself and those around you.

We are fortunate to host Mrs Marie Jepson, co-founder of the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation created in memory of young lawyer Tristan Jepson. The Foundation was created aim of educating and bringing awareness of mental illness to all those potentially affected personally whether by friend or associate.

Details

Date: Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Time: 7:00am – 9:00am
Room: CM05B.01.11
A light breakfast and beverages will be supplied

This is an event of fundamental importance for the health and wellbeing of all UTS:LAW students, so don’t miss out! To register, please click here.

For more information on the issue of depression in the legal industry, please see the recent publications of the Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA), the ALSA Depression Handbook and ALSA LSS Mental Health Supplement, which are available for download from http://www.utslss.com/publications/alsa-mental-health.

Julie McCrossin in Conversation with the Legal Profession

Join The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation with Julie McCrossin, freelance journalist, UNSW law alumna and our guest panel, in a stimulating discussion about the legal workplace culture and mental health.

For the first time the annual lecture will be telecast live from Sydney into venues in South Australia and the ACT. See below for live telecast venue details.

Gareth Bennett, National HR Director, Freehills
Alex Boxsell, Legal Affairs Editor, Australian Financial Review
Dr Michael Diamond, Psychiatrist
Bruce Humphrys, Managing Partner, HopgoodGanim
Nigel McBride, Managing Partner, Minter Ellison (Adelaide/Darwin)
Patricia (Trish) McDonald SC, Selborne Chambers
Damian Sturzaker, Partner, Marque Lawyers

Date: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Time: 5.45pm for a 6.00pm start
Venue: The Federal Court of Australia, Level 21, Law Courts Building, Queens Square, 237 Macquarie Street, Sydney

Thank you for your interest in the Tristan Jepson Memorial Lecture, however the Sydney event is now fully booked.
Refreshments generously sponsored by Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

Submission of questions for the panel

LinkedIn: Find our group and submit a question at ‘Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation’: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/TJMF-Lecture-is-coming-you-3982364.S.70588768
Facebook: Find us at ‘Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation’: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tristan-Jepson-Memorial-Foundation/213898335312688
Twitter: Find us at @TJMFoundation: http://twitter.com/#!/TJMFoundation. When submitting a question use the hashtag: #TJMF
Email: info@tjmf.org.au

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Live telecast details – South Australia

Date: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Time: 5.15pm for a 5.30pm start
Venue: Law Society Professional Development Centre, Level 2, 132 Franklin Street, Adelaide
RSVP: No need to RSVP, just turn up on the night

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Live telecast details – ACT

Date: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Time: 5.45pm for a 6.00pm start
Venue: Federal Court of Australia, Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building, Childers Street, Canberra
RSVP: No need to RSVP, just turn up on the night

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This channel is an initiative of the 2011 ALSA Depression and Mental Health Working Party for Law Week.

The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health

Mental Health Week: 9-15 October 2011

Mental Health Week is an annual national awareness event held every year to coincide with World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10 October each year.

Mental Health Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the wider community

Please check back for more information on TJMF’s involvement in Mental Health week closer to October 2011.

http://www.wfmh.org/

2011 World Mental Health Day is held on 10 October 2011

Thursday 15 September, 2011

A national day of action that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones.

On that day we want everyone across the country, from all backgrounds and walks of life, to ask family, friends and colleagues: “Are you OK?”.

Staying connected with others is crucial to our general health and wellbeing. Feeling isolated or hopeless can contribute to depression and other mental illnesses, which can ultimately result in suicide. Regular, meaningful conversations can protect those we know and love.

It’s so simple but in the time it takes to have a coffee, you can start a conversation that could change a life.

For more information visit http://www.ruokday.com.au/.
 

The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation aims to decrease distress, disability and the causes of depression and anxiety in the legal profession.

The story so far

The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation was set up in memory of George and Marie’s son, Tristan, a former University of NSW law student, young lawyer and comedian. Tristan suffered from severe clinical depression and took his own life, just four weeks after his 26th birthday on the 28th October 2004.

The foundation exists in memory of Tristan’s love of life, his passion for the law and social justice, his wonderful sense of humour and his love for and loyalty to family and friends.

Tristan’s death came as an incredible shock to his family and friends. Few knew of his ongoing battle with depression. At a gathering of some of his friends after his funeral, a recurrent theme emerged. Some of the young women’s boyfriends who also suffered from depression had sworn them to secrecy and would not seek help. George and Marie then decided to speak out about Tristan’s death and his battle with depression, against the norm that they ought not mention his illness or that he had taken his own life.

The Foundation has gone from strength to strength capturing the support of the entire legal community. From all corners of the profession – law students, barristers, solicitors, academics, legal support staff, as well as members of the medical fraternity and so many more, the Foundation has captured everyone’s hearts.

The Inaugural Tristan Jepson Memorial Lecture was held in the Banco Court of the NSW Supreme Court in September 2006. The annual lectures provide a forum for the legal community to come together and discuss the issues the profession faces regarding depression and anxiety. These lectures are aimed at creating education and awareness while also finding strategies to help improve the lives of those working in or associated with the profession.

Accessing research

The Foundation has collaborated with the Brain and Mind Research Institute to produce important research into depression experienced in the legal industry in Australia.
The research is a significant step forward in understanding the issues surrounding the alarming levels of depression and anxiety exhibited in those choosing to study and practice law.

The research can be found here.

New developments

• A new website for the foundation has recently been developed and can be found at www.tjmf.org.au
• You will soon be able to register for the 2011 Tristan Jepson Foundation Memorial lecture through the website
• The Foundation’s Board is reviewing a 4 year plan and a Working Party has been established to help drive the Foundation’s initiatives

We need your help

The TJMF is a voluntary organisation, and needs your help. If you are currently undertaking, involved with or planning initiatives related to depression and anxiety in the legal profession, please let us know.

To download this flyer as a PDF, please click here.