Canadian Lawyer

Regional wrap-up Atlantic A message of hope W hen Tim Daley was elected president of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 2012, he thought long and hard about how he could help most. In the end, he decided the best contribution he could make to his profession was personal. He spent time talking with colleagues about depression and mental health issues. "I know there are a lot of our members who struggle with this," says Daley. "When lawyers get into trouble personally and professionally, there is often an intersection with mental health issues." The sole practitioner from New Glasgow faced his own intersection nine years ago when his depression brought him to the brink of suicide. "I had a plan in place to take my life, but you can step back from the precipice," says Daley. The road to recovery was paved with support from his wife and former partner, who recognized long before Daley did that he was suffering. As outsiders and observers of family and colleagues, says Daley, "you know who's in trouble. You know it long before they do." As such, he says lawyers have a professional obligation to act. "It's incumbent on us to reach out," he says. "It's a very small club we belong to. It's part of our professional responsibility." Speaking up also helps to lessen the stigma often associated with mental illness. As well, it offers a measure of comfort to lawyers grappling with depression and other mental health problems. For Daley, who also turned to the Nova Scotia Lawyers' Assistance Program for help, understanding his personal struggle was the result of a chemical imbalance made it easier to address his problems. Lawyers, he notes, are often Type A personalities who hate to admit defeat or any perceived personal flaw. "By god, we're tough. When we have to Speaking out about his personal battles has been liberating for Tim Daley. admit a weakness, we resist. But this is not a weakness, it is a disease." For Daley personally, speaking out about his three-year battle with depression was unexpectedly liberating. "It was exceptionally cathartic. Once you say it out loud, it takes away the mystery." Dozens of Nova Scotia's more than 2,700 lawyers have approached Daley in response to the talks and presentations he gave over his 12-month term. He also spoke to lawyers outside the province at presentations to the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The statistics on depression are "alarming," notes Daley, and lawyers are harder hit than the general population. Research indicates practitioners suffer from the disease almost four times more than other professions, and the suicide rate is six times greater than the general population. Still, says Daley, his message to colleagues is ultimately uplifting. "This is a message of hope. You can carry on with a successful and happy [life]." — donalee Moulton donalee@quantumcommunications.ca New securities commission for N.B. S ummer brought with it sun-kissed breezes, relaxing days at the beach, and a brand new securities regulator for New Brunswick. Effective July 1, the Financial and Consumer Services Commission assumed responsibility for securities, insurance, pensions, consumer affairs, co-operatives, credit unions, caisses populaires, and loan and trust companies in the province. The arm's-length Crown corporation is funded through fees and assessments paid by the regulated sectors it oversees. The FCSC, which replaces the New Brunswick Securities Commission, is more than a government shuffle. "[It] is important to New Brunswick because it permits Continued on page 8 www.CANADIAN L a w ye r m a g . c o m September 2013 7

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