01
September
2026
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17:53 PM
America/Chicago

Spread hope, have conversation during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

by Stacy Parmer, MOLAP director

Note: If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, 24/7 support.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to fostering dialogue around mental health and taking actionable steps toward preventing suicide. 

A 2023 study found that lawyers "are prone to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse which are strongly linked to suicide risk.”1 In fact, an estimated 11% percent of lawyers in the U.S. have experienced suicidal thoughts, nearly twice the rate of the general population. Just like physical health, mental health requires attention, care, and support.

Thoughts of suicide can be tied to specific tendencies commonly found in the legal profession, including: 

  • Perfectionism: Lawyers with high perfectionist tendencies reported double the stress of their peers.
  • Over-commitment to work: Lawyers who struggle to disconnect from work are twice as likely to consider suicide, according to the 2023 report on lawyer stress.
  • Isolation: Lawyers often feel profoundly alone. Client confidentiality, competitive cultures, and adversarial work create emotional barriers. The same 2023 study showed that lonely lawyers are almost three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.
  • Substance use: Lawyers are nearly twice as likely as other Americans to struggle with alcohol or substance misuse. What begins as stress management becomes a dangerous coping mechanism that compounds suicide risk.

One of the most significant barriers to effective suicide prevention in the legal profession is the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Many lawyers fear being judged or ostracized if they admit to struggling with their mental health. This stigma can deter them from seeking the help they need, leading to tragic consequences. This month serves as a reminder that mental health is health, and each one of us plays a role in promoting awareness, combating stigma, and encouraging those in our lives to seek support.

Please join us as we support and discuss suicide prevention awareness this month. 

  • Follow along on LinkedIn to hear lawyers and judges talk about the impact of suicide on the profession.
     
  • You can volunteer, donate, or participate in one of the five Out of the Darkness community suicide prevention walks led by your colleagues in one of the cities linked below:
  • Consider reaching out to MOLAP for a depression screening. In addition, MOLAP is offering three no-cost QPR crisis response trainings on Sept. 3, Sept. 8, and Sept. 23, with lawyers and judges invited to register here.

Resources: 

  • Contact MOLAP at molap@mobar.org or by calling 1-800-688-7859.
  • Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more at 988lifeline.org.
  • Learn more about the National Out of the Darkness Walks and Suicide Prevention Month from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsp.org.

Endnotes:  

1 Patrick R. Krill et al., Stressed, Lonely, and Overcommitted: Predictors of Lawyer Suicide Risk, 11 HEALTHCARE 536, (2023).