SBM Blog has gotten a record number of tips to this CNN story on lawyer suicide. The story reports that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data ranks law as the profession with the fourth highest suicide rate, right behind dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine, and that state bars say the numbers are rising. A Facebook friend asks, "True in Michigan?" The answer is that the State Bar of Michigan does not keep this kind of statistic but we are acutely aware of the toll that depression takes on our profession. Michigan has lost many talented and beloved lawyers, including a former state bar president. We are committed to helping. Our Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program is an excellent resource for lawyers struggling with depression, and for lawyers seeking assistance to help others. This July 2013 Michigan Bar Journal article (PDF) is directly on point.
