Page 27 - December 2019 Bar Journal

FEATURE
MENTAL HEAL COLUMN
COLUMN ETHICS PERSEPECTIVETH & WELLNESS

Schizophrenia • Ordering and arranging things in a particular, Listen with an open mind, ask questions, and
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that precise way encourage the person to get help.
affects how a person thinks, feels, and • Repeatedly checking on things, such as Refer the person to the Ohio Lawyers
behaves. Many people with schizophrenia repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked Assistance Program. We help Ohio lawyers
may seem like they have lost touch with or that the oven is off with all of life’s stresses. No ailment is too small
reality. Symptoms include: • Compulsive counting or too large. We are your confidential place
• Hallucinations to go when life becomes overwhelming. We
• Delusions The good news have helped thousands of lawyers recover from
• Thought disorders All of these common mental disorders have one stress, depression, anxiety and all mental health
• Movement disorders thing in common: they interfere with a lawyer’s disorders.
• Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life duty to be competent. But, even though some As lawyers, we help people. Let’s start the
• Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities lawyers suffer from these ailments, the good conversation about helping our own profession
• Trouble focusing or paying attention news is all of these are treatable with talk therapy recover from the stresses of being a lawyer.
and/or medication. Helping people with mental illness can only
Obsessive-compulsive disorder help our profession become stronger and remain
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a You can help! competent to our clients. We owe that to them.
disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, Some people believe that when they notice
reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors a colleague is having issues, that they should
(compulsions). Common symptoms include: stay out of it, that it is none of their business. Scott R. Mote, Esq. is the Executive Director of
• Fear of germs or contamination But helping someone with a mental difficulty the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP).
• Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts is your business, especially when it affects our If you are an attorney who is stressed, anxious, or
• Aggressive thoughts toward others or self profession. overwhelmed, OLAP can help. OLAP has saved lives,
• Having things symmetrical or in a The first step is to have a conversation with the careers, marriages and families. All inquiries are
perfect order person. Let the person know that you noticed a confidential. He can be reached at (800) 348-4343
• Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing change in behavior and that you want to help. or ohiolap.org.

Usually,1+1=2.

In this case,

it equals 817.

That’s the combined years of legal

experience in real estate, business
law, and estate planning of
Frantz Ward now that

Kadish, Hinkel & Weibel
has joined us.

F r an t z W ard . c o m

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DECEMBER 2019 CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR JOURNAL | 27