Lawyers and Suicide

Law school and the law office might not seem like a dangerous place, but the danger is there. The danger is in the above average rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. And as September is National Suicide Prevention Month, I figured we should talk about it.

In fact, we need to talk about it. We need to talk about it because it simply isn’t talked about enough. Too many people stay away from it, leaving danger in the stigma left behind by the silence. When we talk about it, we push back against that stigma. And maybe, we save some lives in the process.

According to a recent study, nearly 1 in 5 lawyers have thought about suicide at some point in their career. Recently, a 1L student in Massachusetts died by suicide. These are dangers that are here now, whether we talk about it or not. So, I figure lets go ahead and talk about it.

Because I know that not talking about it can let the demons get a foothold. I know because at the worst of my depression, I didn’t care about my own health. I didn’t care if I lived. I might not have been actively suicidal, but I was in the neighborhood. And not knowing who to talk to, I kept silent because I didn’t think it was something that could be talked about. I was afraid I would be judged if I talked about it.

Yet there is no shame in talking about it. On the contrary, there is strength. There is strength in numbers because we have been there and we can help. If you are struggling with suicidal ideation, you can call us at 630-614-1776 to set up an appointment to talk to a peer specialist, or you can also call the suicide hotline at 988 to speak to someone who will provide a safe, judgement free space. You are not alone. Help is out there. And the more we talk about it, the more we know, and the more lives we might be able to save.