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Smith Griffi n LLP associate Stephanie Couzin took her own life. Th ere was also the death in August 2011 of Osgoode Hall Law School student Wendy Babcock, who had struggled with addiction and other mental-health issues for most of her life. Jennifer Aubrey, a third-year Osgoode student who was a friend of Bab-
I IERS BY HEATHER GARDINER
t should come as no surprise that law school is stressful. Th e same can be said for most other graduate programs, but given the unique pressures law students face, it's even more impor- tant to recognize the needs of those with disabilities, whether they are physical or mental. Th e stigma associated with mental illness doesn't only exist
in the legal profession, it permeates society as a whole. Accord- ing to Health Canada, one in fi ve Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. But since the legal industry is typically viewed as relatively conservative, it can be tough for those who are struggling to reach out for help. Th e only way to change that is to change attitudes towards mental illness. Within the last year, there have been two known tragedies in the legal sphere. On Jan. 28, 2012, Lenczner Slaght Royce
cock's, says the law school should have done more to support her. "Osgoode did not provide Wendy with the mental-health support she needed . . . the
C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS
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