How Lawyers can Avoid Burnout and Debilitating Anxiety—From the ABA Journal

Feeling a little overwhelmed lately? You’re not alone. A 1990 Johns Hopkins University study examined more than 100 occupations for anxiety-related issues and found that lawyers suffer from depression at a rate 3.6 times that of the other professions studied. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study—based on data from 1984-1998—concluded that white male lawyers are more likely to turn to suicide than non lawyer professionals. Falling Through the Cracks, a 2014 survey of Yale Law School students, found that 70 percent of them have struggled with mental health issues during their time at law school.

Do not despair. While two character traits—perfectionism and pessimism—are prevalent among lawyers and may make them prone to anxiety, there are things you can do to combat the trend. Read the full article from the ABA Journal here.