Concerns over rising stress levels at the Bar has led The Bar Council to launch a Wellbeing at the Bar Portal to provide support and best practice to barristers, clerks and chambers on wellbeing and mental health issues.
The new portal, launched in partnership with the Inns of Court and Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC), will provide information on wellbeing events, real-life stories from professionals who share their experiences, sample chambers wellbeing policies and activities and useful contact numbers for those needing advice or help on a wellbeing or mental health matters.
The launch of the portal comes after a Bar Council wellbeing survey in 2014 saw more than 2,500 barristers respond, with many raising mental health issues.
Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimee Doerries QC, said: “Every piece of content on the Wellbeing at the Bar portal is about sharing best practice for dealing with the stresses and strains of practice and ensuring that support is available to all to meet the challenges of life at the Bar. The website provides information and skills to help barristers and those they work with to stay well. Our main aim in producing and promoting this new portal is to encourage barristers, clerks and others to recognise and address the negative effects of working in a high pressure environment at an early stage, before they risk getting out of hand. Equally, we hope that those already in need of help will use this website as a first port of call for getting help.”