April 28, 2025Back to Latest

May 5–11 is the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Mental Health Week (also known as Well-Being Week in Law in the United States). Mental Health Week is a social change campaign to educate the public and shift beliefs and perceptions about mental health.

This year’s theme is “Unmasking Mental Health”. Masking is when people hide parts of themselves – whether it’s emotions, personality traits or behaviours – to fit in, feel safe or protect themselves from judgment and discrimination. But the heavier the stigma, the heavier the mask becomes and the more isolated someone can feel. By looking beyond the surface and seeing the whole person, and by embracing honesty and vulnerability, we open the door to deeper connections and the mental health benefits that come with it.

Below are a few events, resources and ways to participate during Mental Health Week.

Events

Monday, May 5

• Alberta Lawyers’ Assistance Society (Assist) online Red Mug Coffee Circle (noon – 1 p.m.)
  Meet with a supportive community of lawyers who discuss issues and assist students and lawyers who are seeking their way, or to make changes, in our profession. RSVP for all Assist events by email.
• Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Alberta Taiko Drum in-person Workshop in Edmonton and Calgary (6:20 – 8:45 p.m.)
  Participants will be introduced to the art and history of Taiko and will gain a foundation in Japanese drumming techniques. Expect to engage both mind and body while experiencing the energy and rhythm of Taiko firsthand.
• CBA Saskatchewan Together We Thrive: A Framework for Collective Self-Care and Protection as You Navigate Your Journey in the Legal Profession webinar (noon – 1 p.m.)
  Ashley Breland will discuss how setting boundaries is a vital act of self-care, how to discern true boundaries from false ones, and how to articulate needs confidently and respectfully while maintaining a thriving legal practice.

Tuesday, May 6

• Law Society of Alberta Busy, Busy, Busy — Toxic Productivity in Law Webinar; How Does it Happen and How Can We Find a Way Beyond it? and a fifteen-minute mindfulness/breathing exercise presented by Assist before the main presentation begins (11:45 – 1 p.m.)
  Annmarie Carvalho will discuss what contributes to toxic productivity, how to create a model where productivity and teamwork sit alongside wellbeing, and different models for breaking through toxicity and finding measures of contentment as a lawyer. Ashleigh Frankel will lead the mindfulness/breathing exercise.
• Law Society of Ontario Mental Health Summit for Legal Professionals 2025 (7 – 11 a.m.)
  This year’s summit includes insights from the second phase of the national mental health study for legal professionals, tips and tools to manage work-life balance at different stages of a legal career, and the importance of civility and inclusivity to promote healthier work environments.

Wednesday, May 7

• Assist online yoga (noon – 1 p.m.)
  A lawyer yogi will lead an all-levels yoga class. RSVP for all Assist events by email.
• CBA Work-Life Balance in the Legal Profession webinar (10 – 11 a.m.)
  A panel of authors and editors from the recently published The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession will discuss the state of well-being and work-life balance within the legal profession.

Thursday, May 8

• Assist Neurodiversity and Law webinar (noon – 1 p.m.)
  Dr. Brian Forbes will discuss what neurodiversity is, how neurodiverse colleagues can improve team performance, and how firms and peers can support neurodiverse lawyers and students. RSVP for all Assist events by email.
• CBA British Columbia How to Beat Burnout webinar (1:45 – 2:45 p.m.)
  Shari Pearlman will discuss the signs and symptoms of burnout, how to address burnout in your life, and tools available to maintain your well-being and continue to thrive in your career.

Resources and Other Ways to Participate

Receive professional counselling or peer support through Assist. All services are provided on a confidential basis and no disclosure of use of these services is made to the Law Society. You can also check out the many resources on Assist’s website.

Access the following on-demand activities:

• CBA’s Well-Being programs and resources, including The Well-Being Hour video recordings and the Dear Advy advice column.
• Check out the resource package from the Well-being in Practice summit the Law Society co-hosted in 2022.
• Our Reflective Practice course helps to build self-awareness, to more easily adapt and apply new information and to think about mistakes and misses as opportunities to learn.
• Contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment at your workplace that lets your colleagues know everyone needs help at some point in their life and career.