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
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