By now we have all seen the headlines regarding the mental health crisis among lawyers. In the ALM Intelligence 2022 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Survey, 44% of respondents agreed that mental health problems and substance abuse are at a “crisis level” in the profession. A staggering three-quarters of the respondents reported the profession had a negative impact on their mental health over time. The causes of this stress included always being on call, billing pressures, client demands and lack of sleep.

In May 2021 the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One (Public Library of Science) published an article titled “Stress, Drink, Leave: An Examination of Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems and Attrition Among Licensed Attorneys.” The article was produced with the participation of the California Lawyers Association and the D.C. Bar. The article found that nearly half of the attorneys surveyed/screened were experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and nearly 20% of the participants were rated in the moderate to severe range. More than 50% of the participants reported moderate to severe stress. More than 50% of the participants reported “risky drinking,” and nearly 30% reported “hazardous drinking.” The rates of mental health distress and “hazardous drinking” were both higher for women than men.