The story of Joseph Milowic III, the Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan partner who recounts his struggle with depression in a New York Law Journal column, heralds an important message to the legal community: Lawyer well-being is crucial to the future of the profession and there is no shame in seeking help.

A landmark 2016 study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) found that 21 percent of licensed, employed attorneys qualify as problem drinkers. That compares to just 12 percent of highly educated workers in other professions. In addition, 28 percent of lawyers experience depression while 19 percent have anxiety symptoms. The study found younger attorneys in the first 10 years of practice have the highest incidence of these problems.

These numbers represent the real-life suffering of our colleagues. As president of the American Bar Association, I believe this is an important call to action. That is why the ABA created a well-being working group to help law firms create policies supporting their lawyers' mental health and well-being.