Within the American legal profession, considerable attention is increasingly being devoted to the long-overlooked issue of attorney well-being. In legal circles throughout the country, people are asking critical questions and exploring new and creative ideas to improve  the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of lawyers.

Much of this effort was prompted by recent national survey ?ndings of participating lawyers¹ and law students². The survey ?ndings painted a disturbing picture of substantially elevated levels of problematic alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and unhealthy stress. In 2017, the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being³ was formed to promote nationwide awareness, recognition, and treatment of the mental and behavioral health conditions experienced at shockingly high rates⁴ within the legal community.
 

The Importance of Social Connection

One vital aspect of well-being that has largely escaped serious notice is that of social connection—the fundamental human need and ability of individuals to interact, communicate, and form relationships with others. Current research is increasingly demonstrating that social connectedness (or lack thereof) is directly linked to physical, mental, and emotional heath. As we now know, legal professionals struggle with those very challenges at distressingly high rates.

According to Emma Seppala, Ph.D.⁵, author and national authority on the issue, social connection is a sine qua non of well-being. She notes that current research establishes:

• Lack of healthy social connections is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking, or high blood pressure
• Having healthy social connections correlates with lower rates of anxiety and depression
• Strong social connection predicts greater psychological well-being, better physical health, improved immunity, and increased longevity
• Healthy social connection correlates with better emotional regulation skills and greater levels of self-esteem and empathy for others

This year saw the publication of perhaps the most compelling evidence yet supporting the nexus between social connection and adult well-being. In The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scienti?c Study of Happiness, authors Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz describe the findings of the 85-year longitudinal Harvard Study of Adult Development⁶, as well as outcome research from dozens of other national and international studies addressing the importance of human relationships. Their conclusion:

"All of these studies … bear witness to the importance of human connections. They show that people who are more connected to family, to friends, and to community, are happier and physically healthier than people who are less well connected. (pp.20-21)"

While no known studies addressing this issue in the context of our profession, the “sense of disconnection from others is growing across the world. About one in four Americans report feeling lonely.” Given lawyers’ elevated rates of mental and emotional conditions that are strongly correlated with a lack of healthy connections, our attention and resources must focus on all of these issues holistically.
 

The Role of Social Support Networks

Although the precise neurobiology is not fully understood, current medical and scientific research confirms that social support networks act to facilitate physical and mental health and serve as a valuable resource in times of stress or emotional hardship. Strong social support promotes:

• Our sense of self-worth (feeling we are relied on and valued by others)
• Our sense of belonging (knowing we are not alone in the world)
• Our feeling of security (knowing that others are available in times of need)
• Our self-knowledge (having others we trust to provide affirmation and non-judgmental feedback)

Social support is multi-dimensional. It includes friends, family, domestic partners, neighbors, coworkers, colleagues, and acquaintances in our individual familial, social, recreational, and occupational communities. Our connection with others may range from close confidantes to casual contacts. To be healthy, engaged, and effective lawyers, we must learn to create, nurture, and utilize a variety of different relations in our professional and personal lives.

Social support can take several forms, with a single relationship at times serving multiple functions:

• Emotional support. Support gained from relationships with mutual affection, empathy, caring, and shared experiences. Trust, safety, and mutual respect are essential ingredients in an emotionally supportive relationship.
• Logistical support. Support from relationships that provide practical or other day-to-day assistance (for example, rides to doctor appointments or help with other tasks that you are unable to do yourself).
• Informational support. Support from relationships that offer information, advice, and suggestions.
• Appraisal support. Support from relationships that offer an exchange of reflective information, such as constructive feedback.

 

Developing and Nurturing Support Networks

When thinking about developing a social support network, we need to consider our own values, interests, and sources of enjoyment and seek out genuine interactions. Some ways to find and cultivate contacts into mutually beneficial relationships and healthy support networks:

• Get involved. Community activities, places of worship, social service agencies, and professional groups provide valuable opportunities for fellowship.
• Volunteer. Work with others on a cause that is meaningful to you.
• Expand your social network. Accept invitations to social events, especially if they involve new or different people outside your usual circle.
• Draw on your existing network. Call a friend or acquaintance. Relationships are a two-way street. They require attention and nurturing, both giving as well as receiving.
• Get out with your pet. Dog parks and gatherings of pet owners offer frequent and fun occasions to meet others with similar interests.
• Work out. Local fitness centers and exercise classes are often good places to get to know like-minded people;
• Invite someone to lunch. Sharing a meal together can be an enjoyable and non- threatening way to develop rapport with new acquaintances or reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
• Go back to school. A college or community education course can be an opportunity to interact with others in a shared learning environment.
• Be a good listener. Be curious about people and find out what interests them.
• Spend time with family and significant others. Take time to appreciate those closest to you and let them know their importance to you.

 

A Couple of Final Reminders

Remember that one of the goals of having a healthy social support network is to decrease, not increase, our stress levels. Honestly evaluate your current and potential relationships to determine whether they feel obligatory, oppressive, codependent, or otherwise harmful to you. 

Valuable social connections generally do not just happen. They need to be nurtured. We must periodically reach out and actually connect. Relationships can be difficult and messy. No relationship is perfect. If they are worth preserving, though, they require emotionally investing in their care and cultivation!



ENDNOTES

1. https://assets.osbplf.org/documents/in_sights/June-2016-In-Sight-with-change-to-proof.pdf 
2. https://assets.osbplf.org/in_sights_issues/Looking-Forward-Improving-Our-Health-and-Well-Being.pdf 
3. https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/abanews/ThePathToLawyerWellBeingReportRevFINAL.pdf 
4. https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/abanews/ThePathToLawyerWellBeingReportRevFINAL.pdf 
5. https://www.emmaseppala.com/bio 
6. https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/