Research shows that lawyers face higher rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicide than the general population. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. legal industry had the 11th highest suicide rate in 2012 among occupations at 18.8 per 100,000, compared with 16.1 per 100,000 nationwide.

A study of mental-health issues among U.S. lawyers released last year by Patrick Krill, a former practicing attorney who moved into addiction counseling seven years ago, and other researchers found that 20.6% of those surveyed were heavy drinkers and 28% experienced symptoms of depression, compared with 8% or less for the general population for both issues, according to other studies.

The adversarial nature of law practice, together with work and home stressors and the demands of clients contribute to these problems. Advances in technology make it possible to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time, making it more difficult to escape from the stresses and challenges of practice.