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During World Wellbeing Week, we take time to consider the importance of our mental health and wellness. This ranges from the regular steps we take in our lives to stay well, to bigger topics that impact our future.

However, what impact does the Rule of Law have on our mental health and wellbeing?

At a basic level, it’s as simple as the concept of equality.  The Rule of Law means that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.  Just as each of us would hope to be treated with respect and dignity, we should also expect the same from the law. 

Beyond this, though, there is another layer to which we should pay careful attention.

Where an element of the Rule of Law is denied or absent, it is often easy to list the literal impacts – someone loses their job unfairly and cannot get it back or be paid what they are owed;  someone is denied the benefits they are rightfully due and loses their home or other assets; someone is stuck in a destructive relationship and cannot access the advice to show them the way out. 

The literal impacts are serious, but the mental impacts of each of these depravations runs deeper still and often resonates for years beyond the original loss. If a part of your life is taken from you, and you are unable to either recover it or be compensated for the loss, you might also end up with further difficulties. Losing a job can lead to debt problems, which can lead to housing problems, or family breakdown, or other serious consequences. 

Each of these potential outcomes has a clear detrimental effect on our mental health. And so it is just as important as ever to protect the Rule of Law.  Ensuring people’s rights today is critical in securing their wellness in the future. 

To find out more about the work LeixsNexis does for the Rule of Law follow the link to our page and to our Rule of Law foundation .