Let’s be honest, being a lawyer is stressful! Lawyers get down about their work because for the most part, it is a high stress job.
Unfortunately, many lawyers are overwhelmed with constant negative thinking and heavy emotions. They are suffering in silence.
Unwilling to speak about their feelings, these lawyers, may have chronic stressors and could possibly be clinically depressed.
There is a two-fold stigma. One stigma involves the societal views of mental illness and the second stigma is that lawyers are strong, heartless and they can do it all. Lawyers should be able to shake any feelings of stress and depression off. Yet, depression and suicide are not rare to law students or practicing lawyers.
Reasons Lawyers Are Depressed
Some professions are more predisposed to depression, this includes lawyers. There are so many reasons, lawyers may suffer from depression, but here are a few common reasons.
First, lawyers are overworked and underpaid. Not only are lawyers asked to do a lot of work from their clients, they are expected to be miracle workers. These work demands encourage cutting corners and juggling multiple clients to make sure the clients, their client’s families, and others involved, get the expected outcome.
Second, lawyers generally see people in their most vulnerable moments; right after a car crash, divorce, child custody, death of a family member, or even in jail. Many of the clients are desperately seeking the lawyer to swoop down and save the day immediately. If the outcome does not meet the overly high demands of the client, the client is bound to take it out on the lawyer.
Last but certainly not least, lawyers lose cases. With losing cases comes blaming ourselves for not getting justice for the client. All of these factors combined can make the lawyer more susceptible to depression when compared to the average professional.
Many Signs of Depression
Each person is different. The signs of depression may vary with each person. This is one reason I encourage people to PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR WHOLE BODY. Is your mood sad for extended periods of time, are you having constant thoughts about ending your life and talking more about others living without you, and is it difficult for you to feel happiness or stop the negative thoughts and emotions? These signs and other others may suggest that you see your physician and mental health professional.
Untimely and Avoidable Suicide
Lawyers die every year. In fact, a judge was gunned down in an inner city just this week, but how many law professionals are dying from suicide? Though there are no current concrete numbers for this year, I can tell you that suicide is at its highest for lawyers compared to other professionals.
The tragedy of a suicide, regardless of profession, is that it is avoidable. When we take our mental health seriously, recognize the warning signs, and get the necessary help, there does not have to be an untimely death via suicide. If you or someone you know seems out of sorts and more down than usual, then you may want to encourage them to talk to a professional about stress, depression and other overwhelming emotions.
Of course, there is a risk of the person becoming upset with you, or denying that they need help, but there is also a chance that person will be grateful that you were observant. As law professionals, if we are not mentally well, our families, our clients, and our work is adversely affected. It is vital that we take care of each other.