Mental Health and Our Physical Well-Being

Amy Rebecca Johnson
Principal, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C.

I am not a gifted storyteller or author, but I do not find it difficult to write what I know. I know a fair amount about well-being and the well-being principles that BAMSL's Well-Being Committee has been focusing on over the past year (physical, occupational, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual) and that the committee will continue to promote. We focus on physical well-being in September and October, and generally, I am able to discuss this principle in depth because I am active and see the positive results that being physically active brings to both my physical and mental state.

With the 2021 Summer Olympics, a different spotlight started to shine on the athletes, those that we hold to a very high physical standard and who we likely assume have a very high level of physical well-being. When Simone Biles, the most decorated U.S. female gymnast (with 32 World/Olympic medals) withdrew from most events, the conversation started to shift to athletes' mental health. Discussions started happening everywhere about how one may be physically well, but not mentally well. It is impossible to ignore that our mental health affects our physical health and performance.

As someone who takes well-being very seriously and who understands that to be the best that we can be, we need to strive to have well-rounded well-being, the appearance of this discussion on a world stage was important to me. I hoped it would take some stigma out of talking about mental health. As a member of MOBar's Lawyers Living Well Special Committee for Stigma, exposing the stigma behind challenges in well-being is central to my motivation behind all of the work being done on BAMSL's Well-Being Committee.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a month dedicated to raise awareness of suicide prevention. Nearly 50,000 people die by suicide in the United States each year.¹ Lawyers experience substance abuse and depression at higher rates than the general population and therefore, may be at greater risk for suicide. Talking about suicide, especially at this time when mental health is being discussed more openly, is important and necessary.
 

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Warning Signs²

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
• Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or isolating
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Extreme mood swings

Talk about it.

Talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts does not make them more likely to end their life.³

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Do not debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Do not lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Do not dare him or her to do it.
• Do not act shocked. This creates distance between you.
• Do not be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer shallow reassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, like weapons or pills.
• Get help from people or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

If you are experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide:

• You are not alone.
• People want to help.
• Seek assistance:
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat
  • MO Lawyers' Assistance Program (MOLAP): 1-800-688-7859
  • Talk to your doctor or therapist
  • If you cannot keep yourself safe, go to the ER or call 911

If you are interested in continuing to raise awareness of suicide prevention, consider walking in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention St. Louis Out of Darkness Walk on Sept. 26 by starting a team or joining fellow MOBar and BAMSL members on the Lawyers Living Well Team: https://afsp.org.

Our physical well-being is critically important, but it is just a piece of the pie. Like we saw at the Olympics, if we are not paying attention to or making our mental health a priority, our physical well-being may suffer as well.

1. https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/
2. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/
3. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/