Never Take Yourself Or Others Too Seriously, Detachment Important: Delhi HC Judges On How Legal Professionals Can Heal Their Mental Health

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani and Justice Poonam A. Bamba (retired) of the Delhi High Court on Friday said that in order to tackle mental health issues, legal professionals must never take themselves or others too seriously and they must detach themselves from things which they face on a regular basis.

The judges were speaking on the fourth Coffee Chat organized by the Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum on the topic “The Art of Happiness- Healing from Stresses as Legal Professionals.”

Apart from Justice Bhambhani and Justice Bamba, another speaker included Dr. Achal Bhagat, Senior Consultant and Psychiatrist at Apollo Hospital.

On being asked if he has ever faced anxiety and self doubt, Justice Bhambhani said that legal profession is one of the most dynamic professions but also the most stressful professions in the world.

“Medical profession is equally rigorous I'm sure but as a lawyer, the demands on you of having the energy of a horse, the height of an elephant and a mind of an owl and the industry of ants….It is a tough profession. Anyone who tells you they are not stressful is plain lying,” the judge said.

He added: “Yes I've been through a lot of stressful moments and not only the regular rigours of everyday practice. But when you go through certain stages, when you're up for seniority or up for judgeship, that's stressful. It doesn't mean you don't do it. After all thats all it is about. So the answer is yes.”

On being asked about self care practices which legal professionals must incorporate to deal with mental health problems, Justice Bhambhani said that apart from conventional practices like yoga and meditation, an approach which needs to be adopted is to “never take yourself or other person too seriously.”

“You are not to be frivolous of course and we are professionals. But if you take yourself too seriously or even the judge too seriously, It becomes too heavy a burden to carry,” he said.

The judge added: “Other thing is to have a sense of humour. We are surrounded by negativity. That is the environment or circumstances in which people meet us. They are distressed. So it is important to have a sense of humour in everything that happens. When the judge lambasts you or you get a bizarre ruling, you can scream and cry but you can also take it differently. Just keep the thing light. I am reminded of a phrase “This too shall pass.” That helps people go along.”

A question was asked to Justice Bhambhani as to how judges overcome the situations when they, despite knowing what is the right thing to do, fear about the outcome or the repercussions or fear other forces which may come after them after their decision.

In response, Justice Bhambhani said:

“You've touched a very raw nerve. Lot of us face this very commonly. You know what is the right thing to do but there are constraints. Not really the other forces but just the position of law. We have an opinion but sometimes you can't do anything about it because that's the law of the land and you've to follow it. That is the trickiest position to be in. If there is too much distance between the law and justice, I would lean towards justice happily. For the simple reason because I am not the last court of error.”

He added: “Whatever be your personal convictions, you cannot upset the law because that might have other repercussions. That is a bitter pill you have to swallow. There is no other way.”

Furthermore, the judge also commented on the issue of women facing more mental health issues as compared to men because apart from being legal professionals, they handle personal life as well.

Justice Bhambhani said that women are indeed good at muktitasking whereas men are not.

“We can bring up our sons better. The other thing is seeing the environment in the family,” he added.

Taking the discussion ahead, Justice Bamba said that the things which one can follow to take care of the mental health are detachment and watching one's own thoughts.

“It's a very powerful way. I would sometimes, when they (parties) start fighting, you find some parties very unreasonable and when you intervene, I found it that they would go on and on. If you sit quietly and observe them…detachment is the only way. Detachment is the best policy. It is very very handy,” she said.

Justice Bamba added: “When you start watching yourself and detaching yourself, you can pause and look at yourself. The moment you be aware, it automatically stops and relaxes you.”

Justice Bamba further said that when we relate to a situation, we create fear and thus, if we you don't observe and fear the situation, it can get into a huge thing.

She also said that another thing which she practices in her life for ensuring her mental health well being is “sending white light from her heart to other's heart.”

Giving a deeper understanding about the topic, Dr. Bhagat said that everyone has the right to look after their mental health which is a serious issue.

“If we have the right, then who is the duty bearer of that right? Can the individual himself be the duty bearer? The judicial process and stakeholders in the judicial profession, are we all not the duty bearers for each other's mental health? The moment we start thinking this rather than being detached, we will start being empathetic. The moment we start addressing others' pain, we will start addressing our pain as well,” the doctor said.

He added that the larger system needs to be addressed and that mental health has too long been put in a closet and not talked about.

“25 percent of population in the world will have mental health problems which won't be treated by exercises or eating well or trying to be nice to others or passing the white light. People need treatment from professionals. 95 percent population in Delhi don't find help. The waiting time in a psychiatrist's chamber is two to three hours and this is after treatment. The time you get with the psychiatrist is only 10-15 minutes. It is difficult to find mental health solutions,” Dr. Bhagat said.

He added that it is important for everyone to look after their dignity, sense of purposefulness in life and sense of control. The doctor said that no body wants to be made to feel helpless and thus, everyone must look after the feeling of togetherness.

“When we are not able to protect these four journeys in life and are pushed from dignity to abuse, pushed from sense of control to helplessness, then unfortunately, mental health is affected. Mental illness is different from mental health. There are 200 mental health illnesses but dignity etc belongs to us and our processes,” he said.

Dr. Bhagat further said that a lot of young lawyers nowadays are indulging in alcohol, smoking and using substances which is not the solution.

“The reality is that these substances are not helping us cope with our lives. Avoidance is not the solution. Validation of yourself is the solution,” Dr. Bhagat said.

He added that caring for oneself, taking breaks every day and taking out time for oneself is extremely important.