SDCDLA on Lawyers and Depression

The San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association (SDCDLA) has expressed concern over reports of rising cases of depression among lawyers. The SDCDLA says that while they may not be able to verify the prevalence of depression among their members, they have rolled out last year activities that could combat depression amongst lawyers.

SDCDLA Executive Director Robert Christensen says they have been mounting health and wellness projects and activities aimed at helping members avoid burn out. “Medical experts say burn out can lead to depression, and so at SDCDLA we try to help our members recognize signs of burn out and do something about it. We have fitness activities like fun run, golf events, and leisure cycling. We also have webinars, and face to face seminars on averting depression, conquering stress in the work place, time management, among other self-care practices that we lawyers will benefit from,” Christensen enthuses.

The American Bar Association through its ABA Journal recently published a series of write-ups on depression and substance abuse among legal professionals. The article reported why this happens, and what is being done about it among the many other aspects of the topic.

“The statistics are staggering: Lawyers are 3.6 times as likely to be depressed as people in other jobs, while the landmark 2016 American Bar Association and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation study found that 28 percent of licensed, employed lawyers suffer with depression. The study also showed that 19 percent have symptoms of anxiety and 21 percent are problem drinkers.”

Read more about the study in the ABA Journal’s official website here.

Psychology Today meanwhile offered an explanation on why lawyers could be prone to experiencing depression. In its article on depressed lawyers, it mentioned that the culture, the intrinsic characteristics of the usual legal professional, plus the demands of the job all contribute to the likelihood of a lawyer experiencing clinical depression. American Bar Association

“The practice of law can be demanding and exceedingly stressful. Even the most balanced and well-adjusted lawyer at some point eventually succumbs to the pressures of working in the legal field. Put an ordinary individual with unresolved issues and inadequate defenses in a hyper-competitive environment such as the law, and you have the formula for a psychological crisis.”

The original article can be found here.

The SDCDLA promises it will continue to push through with activities that will help avert depression among their members.

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