Legal attitudes to mental health

Depression does not warrant time off work, according to more than half (55%) of senior business managers in the legal sector, while only 41% of employees in the legal sector said they would be honest with their line manager when calling in sick if they were suffering from depression. This shows that the legal sector needs to work harder to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, according to Dr Mark Winwood, director of psychological services at AXA PPP heathcare, which conducted the research. He advises employers to promote an “open and honest culture where the facts about mental ill health are freely communicated and discussed”.