Research shows that lawyers face higher rates of substance abuse, depression and suicide than the general population. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012 the U.S. legal industry had the 11th- highest suicide rate among occupations, 18.8 per 100,000 compared with 16.1 per 100,000 nationwide.

A study of mental-health issues among U.S. lawyers released last year by Patrick Krill, a former practicing attorney who moved into addiction counseling seven years ago, and other researchers found that 20.6 percent of those surveyed were heavy drinkers and 28 percent experienced symptoms of depression, compared with 8 percent or less for the general population for both issues, according to other studies. The adversarial nature of law practice, together with work and home stressors and the demands of clients contribute to these problems. Advances in technology make it possible to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time, making it more difficult to escape from the stresses and challenges of practice. In “Law Firms Tackle a Taboo,” an article in the May 22 edition of The Wall Street Journal, Sara Randazzo reported that “some U.S. law firms are tackling mental health issues head-on. They are offering on-site psychologists, training staff to spot problems and incorporating mental health support alongside other wellness initiatives.”

Used interchangeably, the terminologies “mental health” and “mental illness” are assumed to mean the same thing. Every person has mental health just as everyone has physical health. Mental health relates to a level of psychological well-being or an absence of a mental disorder and explains the emotional, psychological and social well-being a person's existence. It affects thought, feelings, and actions. Our mental health helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Mental health is important throughout all stages of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Nonetheless, not all people will experience mental illness, but everyone will struggle or have a challenge with their mental well-being.