Research and Interesting Articles Written About Depression

A 1990 study at John Hopkins University found that of the 104 occupations they studied, lawyers were the most likely to suffer depression, and were more than 3.6 times more likely than average to do so.  Occupations and the Prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder,  Journal of Occupational Medicine, Journal of Occupational Medicine, Vol. 32 at p. 1079.  By W. W. Eaton, J. C. Anthony, W. Mandel & R. Garrison.
http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/uploads/dep1.pdf
 

Another 1990 study found that compared with the 3 to 9 percent of individuals in Western industrialized countries who suffer from depression, 19 percent of the Washington lawyers suffered statistically significant elevated levels of depression.  Of these individuals, most were experiencing suicidal ideation.  The Prevalence of Depression, Alcohol Abuse and Cocaine Abuse Among United States Lawyers.  International Journal of Law & Psychiatry, Vol. 13, 233-246.  (1990).  By G. Andrew H. Benjamin, Elaine J. Darling & Bruce Sales.

http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/uploads/dep2.pdf


A quality-of-life survey of the North Carolina Bar Association in 1991 revealed that almost 26% of respondents exhibited symptoms of clinical depression, and almost 12% had said they had contemplated suicide at least once a month.  Michael J. Sweeney, The Devastation of Depression:  Lawyers at Greater Risk.  American Bar Association, "Bar Leader." 
March/April 1998-vol. 22 No. 6.
http://www.abanet.org/barserv/22-6dev.html

Suicide ranks among the leading causes of premature death among lawyers.  Richard G Uday, That Frayed Rope, Utah State Bar J. Aug./Sept. 2003 (citing Meyer J. Cohen, Bumps in the Road, GPSOLO, July/Aug. 2001, at 20).
http://www.lawyerswithdepression.com/uploads/dep3.pdf

"Builders and Destroyers". By attorney, Harrison Barnes.  From the article: "The builder versus destroyer dictotomy is perhaps most apparent in the legal community.  Many studies have confirmed that lawyers, as a group, suffer more from psychological problems, such as depression, than other professions.  Because the role of a destroyer is to criticize, depress, and tear down, they are likely to be a greater number of destroyers in the legal profession than in most other professions."  Read more.
http://www.lawcrossing.com/article/index.php?id=25


The 1992 annual report of The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reported that male lawyers are twice as likely to commit suicide.  Lynn Johnson, Stress Management, Utah State Bar J., Jan./Feb. 2003.
http://utahbar.org/barjournal2000/html/january_february_2003_0.html

Article entitled "Depression" written by an attorney who also has a counseling degree and practices both law and psychotherapy.  Go to links section for his very interesting site with lots of useful information and other articles.  He has created a "Professional Development Center" to help attorneys with interpersonal skills and increase the effectiveness of their practice.
www.shaublaw.com/a_depression.htm


1999 article discussed the 1990 research affiliated with John Hopkins University. Lawyers top the list, suffering major depressive disorder at a rate of 3.6 times more than non-lawyers who shared their key social-demographic traits.  Patrick Schiltz, Notre Dame Magazine, Autumn 1999.
http://www.nd.edu/~ndmag/legl2f99.htm


An article appeared in the American Bar Association's Journal for the ABA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division entitled "Other Bumps in the Road:  Depression" by Mary Greiner.  GP/solo, ADA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division, vol. 18, no. 5, July/August 2001.
http://www.abanet.org/genpractice/magazine/2001/jul_aug/greiner1.html

Appellate lawyer, Raymond P. Ward, Esq., wrote an excellent article on the Webb entitled, "Depression, The Lawyer's Epidemic:  How You Can Recognize the Signs".  March 16, 2005.

http://www.legalunderground.com/2005/03/lawyer_depressi.html


Ward also wrote a follow up article on March 22, 2006.
http://raymondpward.typepad.com/rainman2/2006/03/lawyers_and_dep.html


"Why Lawyers?", an article written by a psychiatrist which explores why lawyers tend to have alot of problems with depression.  Writen by psychiatrist, Dr. Michelle Temptest.  April 30, 2007.
http://drmichelletempest.blogspot.com/2007/04/why-lawyers.html


There is an excellent article written by an attorney who is also a psychotherapist named Terry Harrell.  He wrote an article entitled Depression in the Legal Profession.  Judges and Lawyers Program, vol. 23, No. Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Quarterly Journal, The Verdict. 
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/ijlap/pubs/articles/vol23no4a.html

A nice article was published by the Louisiana State Bar Association discussing the rate of depression in the general population, attorneys and suicide.  Louisiana State Bar Association published this article which had originally appeared in the Bar Leader Magazine in the March/April 1998 edition.  It was written by Don P. Jones and Michael J. Crowley.
http://www.lsba.org/lap/depression_suicide__among_law.asp

Dealing with Depression
December 2000 by Jane Herrick
http://www.abanet.org/yld/tyl/Dec2000/depression.html

Transcript of panel discussion on CNN's Larry King Live which aired on May 28, 2003.  Panel included mental health advocate and former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter; actress Mariel Hemmingway; psychiatrist and bipolar suffer, Dr. Kay Jamison and CNN CEO Tom Johnson and his battles with depression.

http://www.studentnews.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0305/28/lkl.00.html

This article is a buddhist take on depression.  It is helpful to remember that different cultures and religious traditions have a different take on and approach to depression.
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/depression.html


This is another article written in the Buddhist magazine Shambhala Sun about depression.
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1614&Ite


"I Want to Tell You About Coming Apart".  From the article: "I want to tell you about coming apart, wanting to die, and returning at last to myself, and about how my Buddhist practice both helped and hindered me in this zigzag journey."
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1753


"The Contemplative Lawyer:  On the Potential Contribution of Mindfulness.  Meditation To Law Students, Lawyers, and Their Clients."
http://mail.law.missouri.edu/csdr/contempl_lawyer.htm


"Lawyers face snage on depression" appeared in the Lawyers Weekly discusses how firms deal with lawyers who suffer from depression.
http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/articles/C7/070379C7.asp?Type=53&Category=853


"Depression in the Law Profession" discusses the higher rates of depression amongst lawyers.
http://www.lawcrossing.com/article/index.php?id=2626


"The Depressed Lawyer" offers an example of a depressed lawyer and explores the affects of depression on lawyers in general.
http://www.texasbar.com/Template.cfm?Section=Current_Issue&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=17288


"What to do When a Colleague is Depressed" identifies symptoms of depression and offers advice on how to handle a depressed coworker.
http://www.texasbar.com/Template.cfm?Section=Texas_Lawyers_Assistance_Program1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=17327

"The First 48 Hours:  Top 10 Depression Myths Debunked"
www.healthcentral.com/depression/just-diagnosed-822-143.html

"The Purple Elephant in The Room: Talking to Someone with Depression"
www.healthcentral.com/depression/new-1594-143.html