1. National Town Hall Meeting Addressing Addiction, Anxiety & Depression in the Legal Profession Data on Extent of the Problem in Law Schools and the Profession

3. Survey of Law Student Well Being (SLSWB) Journal of Legal Education 2016
mental health
substance use (alcohol, prescription drugs)
help-seeking behaviors
IRB; 15 Law Schools (About 11,300 Law Students/3,400 Respondents=Response Rate of Roughly 30%

4. Healthy Minds (Undergrad.)
Alcohol Consumption
SLSWB
Healthy Minds (Grad.)
Healthy Minds (Undergrad.)
Prior 30 days - drank enough to get drunk
53%
39%
61%
Prior 2 weeks - binge drank at least once
43%
36%
45%
Prior 2 weeks - binge drank 2 or more times
22%
21%
30%
Since universities with over 200,000 respondents Binge = 4 or more for women; 5 or more for men in one sitting.

5. Alcohol Consumption and Problem Behaviors
25 percent positive for CAGE questions
Other common problems included:
vomited (37%)
had amnesia or memory loss (25%)
missed class (19%)
drove while under the influence (15%)
Thought I had a problem – afraid I might be an alcoholic (14%)
25% of respondents reported seeing alcohol intake increase when compared to the twelve months prior to starting law school.
-Felt you needed to CUT down; people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking; felt GUILTY about drinking; needed an EYE-OPENER

6. Prescription Drug Use in the Past 12 Months
Overall, 14.4% of respondents used prescription drugs without a prescription in the last 12 months
Of those using prescription drugs without a prescription, nearly half are using them with greater frequency than in the 12 months before law school.
Women are more likely to have a prescription, men are more likely to use without a prescription

7. Distribution and Misuse
Overall, 12.6% of respondents with a prescription have given away their prescription drugs in the last 12 months – with stimulants being most frequent, followed by sedatives and pain medication.
Overall, 14.4% of respondents used prescription drugs without a prescription in the last 12 months – with stimulants being used most frequently, followed by sedatives and pain medication.

8. Prescription Stimulants
Most common reasons for prescription stimulant use without a prescription:
To concentrate better while studying – 67%
To increase my alertness to study longer – 64%
To increase my alertness to work longer – 46%
To concentrate better while working -- 45%
To prevent other students (who are using prescription stimulants) from having an “edge” – 20%

9. SLSWB Results Mental Health Concerns

10. Depression/Anxiety SCREEN
Screened Positive: 17%
[PHQ-2]
Anxiety
Screened Positive: 37% total
23% for mild to moderate
14% for severe .
0-6 scoring. Little interest in doing things; feeling down.

11. Depression & Anxiety . Diagnosis Healthy Minds Study Depression
15% of undergraduate students
17% of graduate students
18% in lifetime, 17% of whom were diagnosed since starting law school
Anxiety
14% of undergraduate students
15% of graduate students
21% in lifetime, 30% of whom were diagnosed since starting law school .

12. Frequency of Suicidal Thoughts & Self-Injury
20% have thought seriously about suicide sometime in their life
6% have thought seriously about suicide in the last 12 months
9% of respondents have hurt themselves in the last 12 months
17% of those have done so two or more times in the past month

13. Help Seeking Behaviors

14. For Drug and Alcohol Concerns
If you believed you had an alcohol or drug problem, how likely would you be to seek assistance from:
81% - a health professional
30% - LAP
14% - dean of students
But only 4% have ever actually used a health professional for alcohol or drug issues.

15. For Mental Health Concerns
If you believed you had a mental health problem, how likely would you be to seek assistance from:
79% a health professional
15% dean of students

16. For Mental Health Concerns
42% thought they needed help for emotional or mental health problems in the past year.
Only half of those who thought they needed help reported actually receiving counseling

17. Factors that would discourage seeking help
Threat to job or academic status
Potential threat to bar admission
Social stigma
Handle it myself

18. Our Law Students Are Scared To Ask For Help
44% report a better chance of getting admitted to the bar if a mental health problem is hidden.
49% report a better chance of getting admitted to the bar if a substance use problem is hidden.
The percentages are even higher among those with multiple concerns, who are most in need of seeking help.
71% agree or strongly agree that law students do not seek help for fear of the professional consequences.
*DNF NOT SLSWB

19. Study of the Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys Journal of Addiction Medicine 2016

20. QUICK QUIZ
The rate of problem/hazardous drinking in the general US population is about 6.4%. 1. What is the rate of problem drinking in the general lawyer population? 2. Are rates of problem drinking higher in older lawyers or younger lawyers?

21. CoLAP/Hazelden Lawyer Study
Compare to the well-edcated workforce

22. Problem Drinking in Judicial Chambers?
16.1% for those working in judicial chambers

23. AUDIT C - Consumption (Briefer Screen for AUD)

 
AUDIT C (consumption only)
36% lawyers = problem drinkers
More than double the rate of physicians (15%)

24. Mental Health Snapshot
28% depression
19% severe anxiety

25. Mental Health over Career
Anxiety – 61%
Depression – 46%
Suicidal Thoughts – 12%
Terry

26. Barriers to Seeking Help
Not wanting others to find out they needed help
Concerns regarding privacy or confidentiality
STIGMA
Real stories …

27. Judicial Stress and Resiliency Survey
This survey is designed to describe the experiences of US judges related to judicial stress and resiliency. It will identify general and unique sources of stress by judicial setting and the impact of stress on aspects of well-being. The survey will also identify how coping mechanisms, including resiliency practices, are employed to deal with stress. The results will help clarify areas for support and services, implications for stress management and resiliency skills, and serve as context for considering changes in early professional development and continuing education. This study has been approved by an Institutional Review Board.
Real stories …