Mental health advocate and former OBA president to work with university on a pro bono basis
The Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law appointed Orlando Da Silva as wellness mentor-in-residence on a pro bono basis.
Beginning Nov. 18, Da Silva will be available weekly to meet with students, who can request for a session through the Faculty of Law’s online portal, the university said in a statement on Nov. 4.
Da Silva, who was president of the Ontario Bar Association from 2014 to 2015, made raising awareness about mental health problems in the legal profession his top priority, the announcement said.
Da Silva recently relocated to Ottawa after he was appointed chief administrator of the Administrative Tribunal Support Service of Canada.
Throughout his career, Da Silva has been an active advocate for mental health, especially in the legal profession, and has opened up about his own struggles. After his term as OBA president ended, he spoke about mental health in various venues, including law schools, across Canada. According to the announcement, the Faculty of Law has hosted him several times during the past few years, most recently during the latest semester’s Wellness Week.
