1/ *steps on soap box*
I’ve worked a couple of different careers under the label of “public interest attorney.” We wonder, as a society, why there are not more of them. “They don’t get paid enough,” or “they don’t have the resources.” Absolutely, those both are true.

2/ here’s my beef. We, as a society, DO NOT CARE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. It’s a stigma, or a luxury. Not just a normal part of humanity. And it drives me fucking bonkers. Because half of my job is legal, half is navigating complex trauma, and doing what I can to mitigate it.

3/ I’m lucky. At Legal Aid, I had FABULOUS supervisors who gave us trauma-informed resources and took our MH seriously. With those tools, I can somewhat get by as a public defender. But why we burn out? We are lawyers, social workers, therapists.

4/ We don’t have the time, resources, or discretionary income to deal with our own secondary trauma. Think it’s some hippie bullshit? Well, one meeting this afternoon and I am an absolute mess. Im not just a woman, or weak, or tired, or PMSing.

5/ Fuck, I’ve been in the trenches in some cases. I’ve been followed home by people who didn’t like me. One lady brought a gun to court and told the judge, in so many words, that I was the reason. Im not afraid, I am not weak; I’m a fighter. I genuinely like helping people.

6/ But I am shouting this to the rooftops. Legal profession - wake the fuck up. Mental health needs to be the biggest benefit you offer, and PRIORITIZE, instead of giving me a list of resources and meditative breathing exercises.

7/ It should be mandatory, like enrolling in health benefits and a 401k plan within 30 days of being hired. It shouldn’t be cute, or some thing we discuss over cocktails like bourgeoise yuppies. It should be something; and MH resources for our communities...

8/ So secondary trauma doesn’t burn us all out, should be a fucking priority. Wake up society, wake up to the legal profession. Hell, if I could run for office on a platform of mental health reform, I would. Bet your ass I would.

9/ so my eye is twitching from anger and stress. Probably signs I should stop. You get my point - screaming into the void.

*gets off soap box*
*whispers into mic*
Okay thank you for coming to my Ted talk.