Kalap: Lawyers, Depression and Suicide: What to Look For–what You Can Do

• Publication year: 2019
• Pages: 21

KALAP: Lawyers, Depression and Suicide: What to Look for—What You Can Do No. 88 J. Kan. Bar Assn 4, 21 (2019) Kansas Bar Journal April, 2019

by Louis M. Clothier

Most of us likely have a friend, acquaintance, former classmate, colleague, relative or immediate family member who has taken his or her life. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2016.^[1] Suicide was responsible for nearly 45,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2015.^[2] Suicide rates in Kansas increased 45 percent from 1999 to 2016, a rate among the highest in the nation.^[3] There were 512 Kansas suicide deaths in 2015.^[4]

Depression is the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide.^[5] In severe cases, depression can be life threatening, with suicide as a possible outcome. ^[6] Depressed individuals may experience:

■ Loss of pleasure in virtually all activities

■ Feelings of fatigue or lack of energy

■ Frequent tearfulness

■ Difficulty with concentration or memory

■ A change in sleep pattern - too much or too little sleep

■ Change in appetite and corresponding change in weight

■ Feelings of worthlessness and self-blame or exaggerated feelings of guilt

■ Unrealistic ideas and worries

■ Hopelessness about the future

■ Thoughts of suicide ^[7]

Lawyers, like others in the helping professions, daily cope with personal and/or vicarious stress, anxiety, depression, physical and/or emotional loss and conflicting relationships. Attorneys in certain areas of practice (e.g. criminal law, child in need of care cases, family law, medical malpractice and personal injury cases) are most likely to be affected by such stressors.

Lawyers are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from depression than non-lawyers. Depression and anxiety are cited by 26 percent of all lawyers who seek counseling. Lawyers rank 5th in incidence of suicide by occupation.^[8] The Kansas legal community lost five to suicide in 2018 and two already in January 2019.

The most common causes of suicidal thoughts include:

● Grief

● Financial problems

● Remorse

● Rejection

● Relationship breakup

● Unemployment ^[9]

The warning signs of suicidal ideation include:

● Declining performance and interest in work

● Loss of interest in social activities, hobbies, relationships

● Feelings of hopelessness, shame, guilt, and inadequacy

● Isolation

● Changes in personality, routine, or sleeping patterns

● Substance abuse

● Getting affairs...