Behavioral Health Crisis in the Legal Community
The legal community is currently experiencing a behavioral health crisis. As Gina Rubel details in her Mid-Market Report article, the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic and ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs surveyed nearly 13,000 lawyers across 19 states and from all regions of America in 2016. The results concluded that of those surveyed, 61 percent reported having anxiety in their careers, followed by depression (45 percent), social anxiety (16.1 percent), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (12.5 percent), panic disorder (8.0 percent), and bipolar disorder (2.4 percent). Due to the crisis, many organizations have been started to provide peer assistance.
One organization, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania works to educate lawyers about behavioral health issues and offer a confidential helpline for lawyers in need. Rubel also provides suggestions on how the legal community can support their peers.
To learn more about how to support behavior health in the legal community, read “The Behavioral Health Crisis Among U.S. Lawyers: It’s Time to Take Action.”
