Meet Farrer & Co’s mental health first aiders

Coinciding with the start of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (9 May to 15 May), leading law firm Farrer & Co announced the appointment of 36 new mental health first aiders. These volunteers range from partners to trainees and from fee-earners to those in business services. The aim is to give employees a choice of people to approach for a listening ear and practical support.

Here, we get to know some of these volunteers and find out a bit more about why they chose to train as mental health first aiders.

Hear from Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of legal mental health charity LawCare, in LawCareers.Net’s latest mental health Feature.

Abigail Black, trainee solicitor

“When I found out trainees were welcome, I put my hand up right away to become a mental health first aider. I used to be a lead practitioner of English, so I have years of practical experience in supporting teachers and students in a fast-paced environment. My mother was also a mental health specialist and ran a brilliant support group that I often attended growing up. I think this normalised and humanised my perception of mental health challenges from an early age.

“Often, people who are struggling with their mental health just want a chance to talk and be heard, so a big part of the role of being a mental health first aider is being able to offer that reassurance by taking the time to truly listen without judgement.

“Sometimes people might try to deal with mental health problems on their own, but this can be really lonely. Mental health problems don’t need to define you, they are simply a part of life that you might need some help with. We are working hard to make it easier for people to talk about their feelings. I’m really glad to be a part of that change.”

Sarah Green, associate

“I struggled with imposter syndrome last year and a friend and colleague suggested I speak to the firm’s mental health counsellor who provided me with practical advice as well as a huge sense of relief. When I was growing up, my brother had depression and I attended family therapy. Both these experiences have shown me how valuable it is to have a non-judgemental space in which to air any anxieties. They have also made me determined to do whatever I can to help remove any stigma around mental health.

“Being able to provide easily accessible support is so important, as this can capture people in the middle ground, those who are ‘muddling through’ and who might think their concerns do not warrant speaking to a counsellor.

“I’ve seen first-hand how simple tweaks to your work habits can make a big difference, so I want to help make sure that no one suffers in silence but instead feels empowered to come forward for help.”

Rebecca Reese, senior graduate recruitment and solicitor apprenticeships adviser

“I have a degree in psychology so have always had an awareness of mental health. Becoming a mental health first aider also felt like a natural extension of my professional role as I support our trainee solicitors as they work towards qualification.

“It is very important for people to feel comfortable in their work environment, so it’s great to have a range of different people to talk to about mental health. The very act of having mental health first aiders in every team will hopefully also make us all more mindful in our working lives. I also hope this will make it less daunting to bridge the gap between recognising you are facing a challenge and taking the step to act on it.

“Loneliness is a timely theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, considering the amount of people who have had to self-isolate due to covid-19. Giving a voice to those who are struggling in this way is really valuable.”

Bryony Cove, partner

“Since suffering from post-natal depression after the birth of my son, I have over time learnt tools to take good care of my own mental health and have become more aware of supporting the wellbeing of others.

“As a private client lawyer, I also often advise on issues relating to mental capacity and have seen how vital it is to have an understanding support network when it comes to either your own mental health or that of loved ones. 

“Thankfully, attitudes towards mental health in the workplace have improved dramatically since I first became a lawyer but there is still more work to be done. In my experience, people, and lawyers in particular, can be reluctant to admit they are struggling. So, it’s important to remind ourselves that, far from being a sign of weakness, coming forward to seek support on mental health is a sign of both strength and courage. I feel fortunate to work at a firm where a focus on wellbeing is so embedded in the culture.”

Tom Bruce, partner

“During difficult periods in my personal life, I have benefitted from the kindness and understanding of a number of people within the firm, all of whom I consider to be role models. The opportunity to fulfil a similar role myself as a mental health first aider feels especially important, given the upheaval of the past few years and the continuing need to encourage more male conversations about mental health.

“While law firms are broadly getting much better at talking about mental health, it can be tempting to revert to old habits when a large piece of client work comes in. A pipeline of looming work can also feel overwhelming, especially for less experienced lawyers, so we hold regular discussions as a team to share practical tips on how to minimise stress, including how to bounce back from a mistake and how to keep control of your workflow. Of course, there will be times when a private discussion on mental health with one of our mental health first aiders will be more appropriate, but I find being able to talk freely and openly in this way with several colleagues is incredibly refreshing – it’s always reassuring to be reminded that you’re not in this alone.

“I am proud to be part of a firm that can provide a variety of safe spaces to talk and can offer guidance on additional sources of support.”

Abigail Black is a trainee solicitor, Sarah Green is an associate, Rebecca Reese is a senior graduate recruitment and solicitor apprenticeships adviser, Bryony Cove is a partner and Tom Bruce is a partner at Farrer & Co.