VBA Journal

WIN 2012

The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.

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ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Lawyers Lawyers Since 1985, Lawyers Helping Lawyers has assisted Virginia's legal professionals in overcoming substance abuse and mental illness. BY MOLLY MCCLENNEN T he statistics regarding lawyers who suffer from substance abuse and mental health problems are shocking. National studies have shown that lawyers are more likely to experience depression and to commit suicide than people in any other profession. In a 2008 study among Virginia lawyers, 13 percent of respondents reported problems with substance abuse and 31 percent said a substance abuse or mental health issue had affected their personal or professional life. The pressures of having a job that deals with people's most serious problems and the perfectionistic, driven personalities of individuals drawn to a career in law contribute to the prevalence of substance abuse and mental health problems in legal professionals. Those same factors often make it dif½cult for lawyers to admit they have a problem and seek help, said MercerTrigiani Principal David Mercer, who is in recovery for alcoholism. WINTER 2012-2013 • 27

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