World Mental Health Day, held on 10th October each year, is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and promoting mental well-being. The theme for 2023 is “Mental Health in an Unequal World,” highlighting the disparities in access to mental health care and the importance of addressing these inequities. It serves as a reminder that everyone deserves equal opportunities for mental health support and resources, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Mental Health Challenges for Probate Researchers

Probate Genealogy, while a fulfilling role, can have a significant impact on the mental well-being of those who work in the field. Each case comes with its complexities, however in every case, probate genealogists and  researchers will face the following challenges:

1. Dealing with Grief and Loss:

Engaging with beneficiaries who have recently experienced loss can be emotionally challenging. Genealogists must recognise the toll this takes on their own mental health and practice self-care.

2. Emotional Boundaries:

Delving into family histories that include sensitive issues requires maintaining emotional boundaries. Balancing empathy with professionalism is crucial to protect mental health.

3. Coping with Setbacks:

Faced with research dead ends and elusive heirs, genealogists may experience frustration and discouragement. Building resilience and coping mechanisms is essential to navigate such setbacks.

4. Managing Stress:

The high-stress nature of Probate Genealogy can lead to burnout. Practitioners should focus on workload management, setting realistic expectations, and taking breaks to prevent excessive stress.

In the legal industry, besides speaking with friends and family, continuous professional development and networking can also provide valuable support.

Of course, it’s not just genealogists who experience these challenges, all working environments will include one or more of the above points in some sense. What is important, is that we recognise and welcome the help and guidance from a professional when needed.

Finders’ commitment to staff well-being

Finders are committed to the wellbeing of all our staff, which is why this year all Line Managers undertook a Mental Health First Aid course with MHFA England (www.mhfaengland.org), and are now Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAider®). This course teaches knowledge and skills for providing first aid to support people who may be experiencing poor mental health. Alongside this, we also have 3 Mental Health Champions, whose purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health while providing extra support to all staff.

We also have our Employee Assistance Programme should our staff require any assistance or support from a confidential third party.

Finders International recognises that homeworking can be beneficial for staff, however, it also recognises the benefits from a degree of on-site working that are difficult to replicate from home. This is why we introduced our Hybrid working policy to offer staff flexibility and better work-life balance.