It may be surprising to some that addiction to alcohol in combination with depression and anxiety are more common in legal professionals than in others.
Lawyers are known for their hard work and intelligence in sorting out complex legal issues. Working in high-stress environments, they are known to push themselves above and beyond their physical and mental limits.
So it is not surprising to mental health experts that, similar to other high-stress careers (such as emergency first responders, police officers, doctors, et cetera), some lawyers resort to unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol abuse to manage their stress levels and anxieties.
People in the legal profession are also among those who experience very high rates of mental health problems. It is estimated that almost 40% of students in law schools deal with depression just after the first year of school. This is likely to continue throughout their time in law school and well into their careers.
An indirect factor for the stress is said to be the high levels of debt accumulated during law school. This burden could be a limiting factor when graduating young lawyers make their career decisions. However, these young professionals need to realize that their well-being is tied to keeping themselves physically and mentally healthy.
A study by the American Bar Association surveyed 12,825 licensed and working lawyers in 19 US states to understand the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption,
Results from the anonymous responses to a questionnaire showed that 28 percent suffer from depression, and 19 percent indicated experiencing anxiety.
Attaining work-life balance is very hard for people in the legal profession. This is especially true in the case of junior lawyers who typically don’t have control over their schedules and workload.
Addiction in the legal profession is a giant problem that unfortunately had put an end to many promising careers and lives.
Taking steps to address mental health and stress-related triggers early on in law school is an important consideration.
It is important that young lawyers who are going through the difficult situation of mental health and addiction-related problems seek help sooner than later. If substance abuse or addiction is exposed later during their career, they can face severe consequences, including disbarment, job loss, bankruptcy, and more.
Fortunately, several treatment options including rehab facilities in a private and confidential environment are available. Seeking help is the first step to recovery.