World Mental Health Day: 10 Stories of Kindness

This year, as I reflect on World Mental Health Day, we need to acknowledge that barristers with lived experience that share their stories can also help us change the culture of the Bar for the better.

By listening to and understanding those experiences and recognising that these voices need to be heard, we can help promote the Bar as a profession that is inclusive and open to everyone.

Mental health issues can affect any one of us, at any time.

By acknowledging that there is an emotional weight in the work we do and by listening and understanding,  we can better support one another and the clients we serve. This is particularly important for those who regularly work on difficult and sensitive cases.

This World Mental Health Day, I wanted to highlight 10 stories of kindness at the Bar – simple moments that made a meaningful difference to colleagues, opponents and clients.

The stories come from the research behind the Kindness Initiative, which is led by myself, Nicola Shannon KC and Professor Robin Banerjee and show how everyday acts of thoughtfulness can help shape a more supportive and inclusive professional culture.

The examples range from:

-an opponent checking in during a difficult personal week
-senior barristers rallying around a junior whose confidence had been knocked
-a leader making sure a colleague could get home for their children’s bedtime
-a silk encouraging a junior opponent after cross-examination
-colleagues stepping in to share someone’s workload during a personal crisis

We believe the messages and stories shared by those involved in the Kindness research provide compelling evidence of the positive impact kindness can have, and of its ability to help change the culture of the Bar for the better.

Written by Valerie Charbit, Director of the RLC Wellbeing Committee.