THE WEIGHT OF LAW SCHOOL:

Transcription

1 THE WEIGHT OF LAW SCHOOL: RECOGNIZING AND REBOUNDING FROM DEPRESSION Jeffrey Fortgang, PhD, LADC-I Shawn Healy, PhD Clinical Psychologists Massachusetts Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) Join for FREE Go Premium For just $25 per year, ABA law student members can save on law school necessities and resources from companies like: Students can save more than $450 with Premium! 1

2 Speakers: Moderator: Jeffrey Fortgang, PhD, LADC-I Clinical Psychologist Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Massachusetts Alissa Koenig, JD Candidate, 2018 New England Law - Boston Shawn Healy, PhD Clinical Psychologist Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Massachusetts shawn@lclma.org Brought to you by the ABA s Law Student Division, Young Lawyers Division, Law Practice Division, and Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar 2

3 Law School: Where it all begins Law School stress is unique in many ways Depression, Substance Use, Anxiety, Stress You are not alone There are practical ways to get help and maintain well-being Prioritize your mental health Start now, because your legal career will require the well-being skills you develop today Startling Statistics on Depression Before Law School During Law school Depression = 7-8% Depression Same as the general population After 1 st semester = 27% After 1L year = 34% After 3L year = 40% 3

4 Combination of Unique Factors Adapting to new challenges / culture Socratic Method Challenges to world view / values / principles Imposter Syndrome Competitive environment More lawyers / fewer jobs Healthy Human Functioning Let s focus on the positive elements of a relatively healthy life when any of these are absent or impeded, it s worth taking note. No one s life is just right, and everyone has bad days, bad moods, and transient reactions to hurts, frustrations, and disappointments. Persistent or Recurrent interference with healthy functions = problem worth addressing. 4

5 Physical Functioning Physical Functioning Eating Not too much / not too little Reasonably good nutrition Sleeping Good sleep routine Not too much / not too little Feel rested Physical activity Able to get up and going in morning Regular periods of physical movement 5

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7 Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) 7

8 Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) Able to concentrate (absorb info, complete tasks) Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) Able to concentrate (absorb info, complete tasks) OK self-esteem and self-acceptance 8

9 Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) Able to concentrate (absorb info, complete tasks) OK self-esteem and self-acceptance Some sense of purpose, meaning Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) Able to concentrate (absorb info, complete tasks) OK self-esteem and self-acceptance Some sense of purpose, meaning Able to handle conflict with others or within self 9

10 Hope, able to look forward to aspects of future Some energy/motivation (despite challenging work) Able to concentrate (absorb info, complete tasks) OK self-esteem and self-acceptance Some sense of purpose, meaning Able to handle conflicts with others or within self Able to handle unexpected hurdles Interpersonal Life Feeling connected to (some) other people Daily interactions with others (some of them gratifying) Sharing your weekly highs and lows with someone 10

11 What to Do About It Familiarize yourself with many options Don t try to solve every issue at once Make connections with resources prior to needing them Lifestyle Interventions Exercise Nutrition Sleep Hygiene Healthy coping skills 11

12 Outside Help Law Student groups (ABA and law school specific) Dean of Students Lawyers Assistance Programs (LAP) Outside Help Therapists Different approaches to therapy (not complete list) Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Psychodynamic Couple / Family Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Positive Psychology Exposure Therapy Expressive, Existential Problem-Specific Counseling Newer techniques, e.g., EMDR, IFS, Existential, Licensed professionals are highly recommended 12

13 Outside Help Groups Group Therapy (professionally-led) Ongoing vs. Time-Limited Specific Problem vs. General Didactic vs. Interactive vs. Support Self-Help (peer-led) 12-Step Groups Other, e.g., SMART Recovery Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance Helping Peers Express sincere concern State what you have observed Listen non-judgmentally Encourage getting help 13

14 Preparing for the Future The Bad News The Good News Culture persists after law school Depression rates among lawyers = 21% Doing nothing is the least effective intervention Rates of depression decrease after law school. Treatment is slowly becoming less stigmatized & more accessible Treatment for depression results in improvements ranging from 47-66% Preparing for the Future Remember to monitor yourself Thoughts Feelings Behavior Physical State You re still a human being! 14

15 The Weight of Law School: Recognizing and Rebounding from Depression Questions? Jeffrey Fortgang, PhD, LADC-I Shawn Healy, PhD 15