 |
|
||
| |
FROM THE EDITOR
Mental Health and The Law Welcome to the third special issue of The Houston Lawyer for this bar year. This time we focus on the challenging and wide-ranging topic of mental health and the law. Since law is, in fact, a “learned profession,” the good mental health of its practitioners is a condition precedent to the delivery of legal services and the functioning of our legal system. This issue contains a list of resources addressing that concern. However, there are also substantive articles on issues that go beyond the well-being of the bar. Indeed, in editing this issue, one member of our board mentioned that the articles for this issue were “heady” stuff, a pun that captures both the anatomical location of our subject matter and the weight of the research and analysis of the authors. Thanks go out to Mark Correro of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, who is also an associate editor of The Houston Lawyer. He volunteered as guest editor of this issue, and did an outstanding job locating quality authors and content. In reviewing these articles, I suggest that we keep in mind the purpose of the legal concepts they address. For the law that addresses mental health does not exist as an academic exercise. It exists for the benefit of the frightened patient, alienated from his family by voices he hears. It exists for the attorney whose once-thriving career is now inexplicably clouded by the shadow of depression. It exists for the mother faithfully visiting her child at a treatment center she never expected to know or visit. It exists for the underpaid case worker helping a group of mentally ill patients cope with a world that still struggles with how to cope with them. Our work on this issue has served to remind me of the unsung courage and patience exhibited by those who battle mental illness, and the families and professionals who aid them in that battle. I hope this issue, in some small way, advances their cause in the battle. My brother, Benjamin Wilson, fought his own battle bravely. My other brother, Daniel Wilson, helps others fight as a case worker. This issue’s “From the Editor” column is dedicated to them.
|
