MOLAP offers no-cost mental health training
Emily Jarrett is the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program (MOLAP) clinician and well-being coordinator.
Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.
October is a great time to focus on well-being as there are several national mental health initiatives. Mental Illness Awareness Week is Oct. 4 – 10, and is an annual national public education campaign led by the National Alliance on Mental Illness designed to help raise awareness of mental illness (U.S. Department of Agriculture, food and Nutrition Service, n.d.).
The demands of the legal profession impact lawyer well-being. The Missouri Well-Being Study conducted in 2025 found that Missouri lawyers are not excluded from these challenges. Of 600 Missouri lawyers surveyed, 23.5% of Missouri lawyers screened positive for depression, 32.2% screened positive for anxiety, and 38% met burnout criteria on at least one dimension (Thiese, 2025).
The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help with confidential no-cost counseling services, crisis intervention services, and substance use support. Learn more at MoBar.org/MOLAP.
In light of these challenges, Oct. 10 brings awareness to three important initiatives. World Mental Health Day is celebrated on this day and shines a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being. It is an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and advocate for stronger policies and services to support mental health for all (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 2025).
Oct. 10 also coincides with Law Student Mental Health Day. Law school brings highs, lows, and everything in between (American Bar Association, n.d.). The Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to support law students as they navigate this academically challenging period. Learn more about MOLAP’s law school services and view its office hours at the four Missouri law schools here.
National Depression Screening Day is also on Oct. 10. Mental health screenings are a regular part of maintaining overall health, just like physical health check-ups. Consider filling out the depression self-test below to evaluate your well-being.
Depression self-test
This series of questions concerns one's mental well-being. Answer "yes" or "no" to the statements below. This self-test is not a substitute for a professional evaluation. MOLAP clinicians can provide a confidential and free evaluation in person (The Missouri Bar, n.d.).
1. I am unable to do the things I used to do.
2. I feel hopeless about the future.
3. I can't make decisions.
4. I feel sluggish or restless.
5. I am gaining or losing weight.
6. I feel tired for no reason.
7. I am sleeping too much or too little.
8. I feel unhappy.
9. I become irritable or anxious.
10. I have thoughts that I would be better off dead or of hurting myself in some way.
If you answered "yes" to five or more of these statements, and you have felt this way every day for several weeks, there is a good chance you are suffering from depression and would benefit from contacting MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859 to make an appointment to see us. If you answered "yes" to the last statement, you should seek help immediately, regardless of your answer to any other question. 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
No-cost Mental Health First Aid training
MOLAP will be offering a virtual no-cost Mental Health First Aid training Oct. 22 and Oct. 29. MHFA is an evidence-based, early intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges, along with how to appropriately identify, understand, and respond to them. The training will be split into two sessions, held over a two-day period. Additionally, participants will need to complete a two-hour self-study prior to the first session. The training duration will be seven hours.
The first session will be on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The second session will be on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Click here to register for the training by Oct. 18. The training qualifies for 5 MCLE credits, but participants must attend both sessions. If a participant registers for Session 1, they will automatically be enrolled in Session 2. The link and instructions for the self-study materials will be sent to registrants, and the self-study work must be completed prior to the first session on Oct. 22.
MOLAP is here to help. Reach out today by calling 1-800-688-7859 or emailing MOLAP@MoBar.org or use the following link to schedule a session with a licensed therapist to support your well-being: https://www.therapyportal.com/p/molap/.
References:
American Bar Association, (n.d.). Law student mental health day. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_students/resources/mental-health/mental-health-day/
National Council for Mental Wellbeing. (2025). World Mental Health Day 2025. https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/world-mental-health-day-2025/
The Missouri Bar. (n.d.) Mental Health. https://mobar.org/site/content/Lawyer-Resources/MOLAP-areas/Mental_Health.aspx
Thiese, M. (2025). The Missouri Bar Well-Being Study Final Report. The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (n.d.). Mental illness awareness week and national depression screening day. WIC Works Resource System. https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/topic/health-observances/mental-illness-awareness-week-and-national-depression-screening-day