Mental Health at the Bar - The Truth Behind the Mask - A guest post by Brian Mondoh

I am delighted to be able to host a new guest post from UK barrister and Trainee Attorney-at-Law of Trinidad and Tobago, Brian Mondoh. Brian was Called to the Bar in 2017, after completing the BPTC with an overall Very Competent. Therefore he is very well placed to share his thoughts for new practitioners, Pupils and BPTC students. 

Brian Mondoh - guest post author

I think the mental health of law students and lawyers is something we are only just becoming aware of as an issue. As society's attitudes are changing, we are becoming much more enlightened about understanding anxiety, having empathy for those suffering from depression and breaking the taboo or stigma of having mental health issues. 

Of course, there are experts in the field of mental health, and if you are suffering from mental health issues, it is important to get the right kind of assistance and care. I would urge anyone suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, addiction or other issues to seek appropriate help. 

However, "self care" can go a long way. Brian's post is candid, insightful and I hope, of great help to you. 

For emotional support you can contact:

Samaritans (Call 116 123 - a free number which does not show up on phone bills)

SANEline (Call 0300 304 7000)

Papyrus HOPEline UK (for young people under 35 struggling with self-harm or suicidal feelings) (Call 0800 068 4141)

CALM (Campaign against living miserably - working to prevent male suicide in the UK) (Call 0808 802 5858)

FRANK drugs advice (Call 0300 123 6600)

Mental Health at the Bar: The Truth Behind the Mask!

Life at the Bar, can I think, best be compared to a theatrical performance! Just like actors, barristers are ever so good at putting on faces, hiding their true feelings and emotions, and shutting out any weak persona. Despite the brave and confident outlook, barristers may in fact be facing high levels of stress and anxiety, undergoing depression and/or even ‘hooked’ on abusive substances. Whether at Bar school or in practise, life at the Bar is a seriously tough job and requires mental fortitude and emotional robustness, not to forget, a strong support system! This could either be from family and friends and/or professional support.

As a Bar student, one quickly realises that being on top of his/her academic and assessments workload is not even half the battle! Many, if not all, Bar students are incredibly intelligent, and this means that nearly everyone’s CV looks the same during pupillage and work applications! The real test then, at least for me, was to keep on top of my workload but at the same time being actively involved in several other extracurricular activities in order to stand out from the crowd when making applications.

The pressure of, among other things, undertaking mini-pupillages, participating in moots, ‘marshalling’/shadowing several judges at the courts, undertaking pro bono casework with the Free Representation Unit, attending the 12 mandatory qualifying sessions at my Inn of Court in London made up the other half! Although overly demanding, this experience was a useful learning point, as it taught me the importance of realistic decision making, time management and not overextending my capabilities.

In retrospect, I can confidently say that Bar School was a good benchmark for getting a feel of life in practise, because if anything, the demands at the Bar are much more heightened! There is the time commitment, the pressure to deliver and the endless reading of sheer volumes of case files and research. Consequently, long study and research hours, often pulling ‘all-nighters’, even on holidays and weekends means that social time with friends and family is gravely sacrificed, thus, adding on to one’s loneliness!

I must confess that I succumbed to depression on several occasions at Bar School because I, like others in my cohort, felt like nobody understood our everyday frustrations and/or the constant and unforgiving pressure that we were going through! I, particularly, felt completely despondent and overwhelmed by the level of coursework and extracurricular activities that I had to manage. I only overcame this slump after seeking professional help and undergoing a significant period of therapy, which helped me to manage my expectations and to play to my personal strengths. In this respect, I strongly advise aspiring barristers to reach out and confide in someone whom they trust and who readily listens. It does not have to be a professional counsellor. At the end of the day, an objective listening ear will be of significant help and can make a huge difference in one’s life!

In sum, the issue of mental health can no longer be ignored! Despite varying cultural and religious attitudes towards the matter, it must be acknowledged and tackled head on! This means that every person experiencing mental health issues, barristers included, must admit and address their issues. Bar Schools, offices, law firms and chambers need to be supportive and helpful, which starts by encouraging a healthy work/personal life balance, flexible working hours and providing counselling support amongst other things as ways of enhancing professional performance!

Author: Brian Sanya Mondoh

Qualified as a Barrister (England and Wales), Trainee Attorney-at-Law (Trinidad and Tobago)