A recent news story focused on a rash of suicides among Kentucky lawyers. The legal profession is often cited as having disproportionate rates of depression and suicide compared to other professions. Anecdotal reports such as those found in this article suggest that these trends are associated with the stress of the occupation – and this is especially true for trial attorneys.
While the article is helpful in alerting the public as well as those in the legal profession of the issue, it also might serve as an opportunity to note that lawyer assistance programs offer resources and support for lawyers suffering from depression and who may be at risk for suicide. A directory of state LAPs can be found here
