The Depressed Lawyer: Recognizing and Helping Those in Crisis
Cathy “Cat” Bennett was a remarkable person and one of the founders of the jury and trial consultation field. She used to say, “give people their…
February 01, 2018 at 12:00 AM
6 minute read
Cathy “Cat” Bennett was a remarkable person and one of the founders of the jury and trial consultation field. She used to say, “give people their flowers during their lifetime.” It is that time of year when we celebrate the great joy that our profession brings to us, our staff and our families. We truly are blessed to be part of a great and noble profession. It's the time of year that we acknowledge and appreciate all the hard work and dedication of those who work with us and for us. It's the time of year when we give and receive our flowers.
It is also the time of the year when a number of loved ones may spiral into a gloomy mood. The holidays and the winter SAD—seasonal affective disorder—exacerbate the pain for those who suffer from depression.
Depression does not discriminate. Its tentacles touch all groups of people regardless of age, race, religion, education or socioeconomic status. But the legal profession is particularly hard hit. Statistics in this area don't lie. In the early 1990s, Johns Hopkins University did a study of the top 105 professions and lawyers topped the list in incidence of major depression. It seems there is little that has changed over the decades to make the practice of law less stressful. A study by the American Bar Association and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation looked at a sample of more than 12,000 lawyers. It was the first major study of its kind in 25 years. Although the focus of the study was substance abuse, the study found 28 percent of attorneys struggle with some degree of depression.
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