Well-Being in the Legal Profession

People often use the terms mental health, well-being and wellness interchangeably, though they can have different connotations. 

While not everyone has experienced a diagnosed mental illness or substance use issue, we all have mental health. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

As with our physical health, our mental health moves on a continuum throughout our lives and it is possible that you will at some point have poor mental health. In any given year, one in five Canadians experiences a mental health challenge, and by the age of 40 one in two have experienced a mental health challenge. Just as it is possible to have poor mental health without a mental illness, it is also possible to have good mental health with a diagnosis of a mental illness.

There is not a universal definition for well-being, but it is considered a broader concept that encompasses various aspects of a person’s physical, mental, emotional, financial and social health. Well-being tends to be used in the context of considering one’s overall sense of happiness and fulfilment.

Wellness tends to be viewed as referring to one’s physical health, including diet and exercise. 

Mental health and well-being terminology is used throughout this course as appropriate to the context and to align with the terminology used by the Study’s research team.