Funded by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association, the study surveyed around 13,000 licensed and employed attorneys and found that more than 20 per cent of respondents reported ‘hazardous, harmful and potentially alcohol dependent’ drinking behaviour. Problem drinking was significantly more common among male lawyers (25.1 per cent) than among women lawyers (15.5 per cent), while younger lawyers had the highest percentage of problematic drinkers with 31.9 per cent of the total under-30 cohort reporting difficulties with alcohol.
Mental health struggles
In addition to asking respondents about substance consumption, dependency and abuse, the survey also covered mental health challenges including depression, anxiety and stress. A troubling 28.3 per cent of respondents said that they were experiencing symptoms of depression, while anxiety and stress were affecting 19.2 per cent and 22.7 per cent respectively. While men were significantly more likely to be suffering from the symptoms of depression, the survey found that anxiety and stress were more common among female lawyers.
Source: Australasian Lawyer
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