Dechert partner Jason Butwick

Large commercial law firms are not the first places that come to mind when people think about caring and compassionate employers.

Law can be a tough profession: long hours, tight deadlines, stressful situations, pressure to produce results for clients. And mental health remains a taboo, especially in a demanding and competitive environment where signs of 'weakness' are traditionally frowned upon. As a profession, we need to be bolder and more innovative in how we address mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Today (10 October) is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity to reflect upon mental wellbeing and take stock of where we are and, importantly, what action we need to take to improve things.

Without doubt, the legal profession needs to make improvements. One in three of the UK's workforce has been formally diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lives, according to the Mental Health at Work 2018: Seizing the Momentum report published this week by Business in the Community. The report finds that 61% of employees have experienced work-related mental health issues, and 6% of employees have been living with a formally diagnosed condition for more than 10 years.

These are shocking figures. But one other statistic in this report really stands out: 64% of managers have had to put the interests of their organisation above staff wellbeing at some point. This finding goes to the heart of the issue: how do you separate employee mental health from the health of your business? Especially in sectors that rely heavily on human expertise, this is virtually impossible. Good employee mental health is crucial to running a successful, sustainable firm where employees want to work.

At Dechert, we are raising our game by introducing Mental Health Champions and Mental Health First-Aiders into our London office. Seven employees have received accredited mental health training with St John's Ambulance, enabling them to support colleagues who may be struggling with mental health issues. Akin to physical health first-aiders, these individuals will provide another source of help, in addition to HR and their line manager. We also offer weekly guided meditation, education sessions on nutrition and the importance of physical activity, plus, like other large businesses, an employee assistance programme comprising confidential face-to-face counselling sessions, a free advice phoneline, and an online platform providing cognitive behavioural therapy.

We are proud of these initiatives, but recognise that there is much more still to do. In recent years we have certainly seen the debate in the legal sector shift around mental health in the workplace – from a box-ticking exercise or a means to increase human resources efficiency, to a more considered emphasis on being a genuinely caring employer.

As a profession, we have made progress in both awareness and action to support good mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, but there is so much more to be done to facilitate open dialogue about mental health challenges to end the taboo, and to provide employees with the necessary support.

Jason Butwick is an employment partner and one of Dechert's four-strong London management committee.