The 2019 Minds Count Annual Lecture was held at the Federal Court, Sydney on Tuesday 19 November.
The annual lectures were created to provide a forum for the legal community to come together and discuss the issues we face as a profession regarding depression and anxiety. These lectures are aimed at creating education and awareness while also finding strategies to help improve the lives of those working in or associated with the profession.
This year, the lecture was delivered by David Westgate. David is a bipolar businessman, writer and mental health advocate and has had a long career as a high-flying businessman working in the field of advertising. David decided to blend his passion and career to become a keynote speaker for the Black Dog Institute after being diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and is now a passionate promoter of mental health within the workplace whilst living a full personal and professional life. We thank David for so openly speaking about his experiences and sharing such practical tips on how to reach out to our colleagues.
The speech was followed by an interactive Q&A session with David Westgate & Dr Greg DeMoore (psychiatrist and Minds Count Board member) and was facilitated by Jerome Doraisamy (The Wellness Doctrines and Minds Count Board member).
Minds Count would also like to congratulate Herbert Smith Freehills and Clarissa Rayward for winning the inaugural Minds Count Awards for Best Mental Wellbeing Initiative and Individual Leadership in Legal Mental Wellbeing. Their continuous work in promoting mental health in the workplace is truly inspiring and we look forward to hearing about what’s to come.
The Minds Count Foundation appreciates the support and commitment from individuals to spread the word on mental health and to create change for the better. We look forward to working together so we can improve mental wellbeing across the legal profession and look forward to the lecture in 2020!