The American Bar Association’s Law Student Division has selected March 28 as the official National Mental Health Day at law schools across the country. To observe the event, Harvard Law School is sponsoring a week of educational activities.
The National Mental Health Day program aims to raise awareness of mental health issues within the legal community, and equip law school students with the skills and resources to assist them with mental health concerns.
On Tuesday, March 28, representatives from Harvard University Health Services presented a talk on processing grief and loss. Also on Tuesday, from 3-5:00pm, the law school will host “Stress-Buster Chair Massages,” in the WCC Fireside Lounge. Wellness giveaways and snacks will be provided.
On Wednesday, March 29, from 12-1:00pm, in Milstein East, a securities litigation attorney will reflect on his personal journey in a talk titled, “A Lawyer’s Journey: Risk, Recovery, and Resilience.” The talk will focus on risk factors, recovery, and resilience strategies, and the ethical issues that surround mental health conditions.
On Thursday, March 30, Marla Allisan, an attorney and licensed social worker, will moderate a student panel titled “How I Manage Stress in Law School.” As part of the event, which will take place at noon in WCC1023, a panel of students will share their perspectives on some of the stresses of HLS and how they have coped.
The week will end with a talk, “Managing Mental Health in Law,” with two practicing attorneys. The discussion, which will take place on Friday, March 31, from 12-1:30pm, in WCC 1023, will focus on mental health in law school and the legal profession.
HLS Wellness, the Student Mental Health Association, and Student Government Health & Wellness are co-sponsors of the weeklong event.