Your clients come to you to ensure they receive the best possible outcome in their legal proceedings. Every day, you work to make sure they are taken care of, but that can take a toll. You are only human. How do you cope with that pressure? Do you bury the depression or drown it with alcohol because you don’t want to seem unsuitable for the job?
According to the Florida Bar, 36% of lawyers in Florida have an alcohol use disorder, and they rank in the top 10 professions for suicides. At Tranquil Shores, we understand that many lawyers don’t want to attend treatment because of the stigma they feel in the field. Today, we are going to discuss lawyers, addiction stigma., and how it can impact substance use and recovery.
What Is Stigma?
Having a substance use or mental health disorder is a common experience in the United States. In Florida alone, 2,642,000 people were diagnosed with a substance use disorder in 2021, but 2,247,000 of those people did not receive treatment. Why is that? A common reason is stigma.
Stigma refers to the negative views and beliefs you or others may have about a disorder. These beliefs are often false and may make someone reluctant to get help. If someone has been exposed to stigma throughout their life, they may not believe they need help because the beliefs don’t match their circumstances.
Stigma comes in two forms: public and self. Both often involve stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Let’s examine the difference between the two.
Public Stigma
Public stigma refers to the general population. It is what the community, media, family, friends, and colleagues think about substance use and mental health disorders.
What beliefs do these groups of people have? A lot of times, they may believe that people with these disorders are dangerous or unable to do their jobs. Some people may see them as weak or unable to recover.
People may be prejudiced toward those individuals because of fear or anger. People with these disorders may experience family or friends distancing themselves or reacting with frustration if their loved one reaches out for help. These reactions may result in people pulling back and hiding because they don’t want their loved ones to view them differently.
It also leads to discrimination, such as avoiding or not inviting them to social events. If an employer knows you have a substance use disorder, they may withhold opportunities for advancement. This makes it challenging to do well in their career. People may also choose not to help someone because they feel they incorrectly believe the person can’t be helped.
Self-Stigma
Self-stigma is your beliefs surrounding substance use and mental health disorders. Self-stigma normally leads to one of two results: denial or lower self-worth.
Denial stems from misconceptions about substance use and mental health. You have a preconceived notion about what those with an SUD or mental health concern look or act like. This can lead to you not being able to see when you, yourself, might need help. If you’ve ever had thoughts like, “Well, I can’t have depression. My life isn’t that bad,” or “I can’t be an alcoholic. I only drink two drinks a day,” you might be affected by denial due to stigma.
Regarding the other side of the coin, you might believe you are weak or unable to do your job because of your circumstances. You may develop low self-esteem or self-efficacy, which may make you less likely to do the things you need to do, or you may believe that attending treatment will not help you because you are beyond recovery.
The truth is – recovery is possible at any point in your journey. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a few months or several years. It is never too late to attend treatment and find healing.
How Does Stigma Impact Lawyers?
Being a lawyer is stressful. Every day, you encounter people who need help in various ways. You may be a lawyer for a company and are helping with legal matters, or you are advocating for a client who has been charged with a crime. Several situations lead you to experience pressure or stress that might impact your mental health. If you don’t address it healthily, you may turn to substances as a way to cope.
Stigma may make it more challenging to get help. Those who do not understand what you are going through may reflect beliefs that you are beyond help or judge you because of the disorders. You may experience harassment or isolation and may receive fewer opportunities to advance in your professional life. As a result, this may create a fear within yourself that prevents you from seeking treatment.
Lawyers and Addiction
A study researched mental health and substance use among lawyers in the United States. They found that 20.6% of the participants had symptoms of an alcohol use disorder, while 74.1% of them were regularly taking stimulants. Only 6.8% of the participants in the study reported that they had attended treatment for a substance use disorder. The remaining participants listed reasons they have not received treatment. Fears of others finding out they need help and concerns about privacy and confidentiality policies were among the top explanations. Both of these factors may be indications of stigma in the legal profession.
While this study only included a randomly selected population, it did bring to light the need to overcome stigma, as many lawyers could benefit from life-saving help. Not receiving treatment and trying to hide it instead may result in:
- Injury or overdose
- Mental health disorders, such as depression
- Financial concerns
- Criminal activity
- Disbarment or suspension
You can prevent these from occurring by taking the time to receive treatment and recovery.
Lawyers and Mental Health
In that same study, 61.1% reported symptoms of anxiety, 45.7% with depression, and 11.5% had suicidal thoughts at some point in their careers. In 2023, there were 84,594 lawyers in Florida. If we were to reflect on the findings from this study, approximately 51,000 Floridian lawyers had anxiety, 38,000 had depression, and 9,000 had suicidal thoughts.
If you want to continue your career for years, taking care of your body is essential. This includes your mental health. As a lawyer, your brain is an integral part of your job. When you are encountering a mental health disorder, you may have a challenging time accomplishing the tasks you are assigned. Some aspects that may indicate a need to acquire treatment for a mental health disorder include:
- Lack of enjoyment in life
- Developing substance use disorder
- Missing work or not meeting deadlines
- Interpersonal conflicts
- Thoughts of suicide
Having a mental health or substance use disorder is not a sign of weakness and a lack of being able to do the career you once enjoyed. Attending a treatment program tailored to the needs of lawyers allows you to heal and regain your dedication to law.
5 Ways to Reduce Stigma in the Legal Profession
It is difficult to permanently reduce stigma on your own, but there are some things you can do, and every bit helps. When you encourage others to do the same, the effects of judgment will lessen with time and participation. These ways are a small part of leading other lawyers to recovery.
Familiarize yourself with mental health and substance use disorders: Researching different mental health and substance use disorders gives you a better understanding of what is true and what are stigmatized beliefs. This research may be from the internet and books. It may also be from talking to people in similar situations as yourself. Learning from lawyers who are on the other side of substance use or mental health disorders may reverse the effects of stigma since they are examples of successful recovery.
Change the narrative: Educate other people about mental health and substance use disorders. If someone says that people with these conditions are lazy or weak, inform them that it isn’t true. Teach them that treatment and recovery are possible and that people lead successful careers afterward.
Share your story: Like changing the narrative, sharing your own story can challenge notions of what someone with an SUD or mental health concern “looks like.” It can also inspire others when they see they’re not alone. When you share your story of how you were able to recover from a substance use or mental health disorder following treatment, it begins to disprove the beliefs commonly held in stigma.
Change your vocabulary: The words we say matter, and some carry a stigma. For example, words like “addict” and “addiction” imply that a person is defined by their substance use. Instead, opt for words like “person with a substance use disorder” or simply “substance use disorder” when directly talking about it. This gives people the idea that it’s a condition and not something that is unchangeable. Likewise, instead of using words like “clean” or “sobriety” when discussing your life afterward, use “a person in recovery.” Using person-first and non-stigmatized language frees others to believe they can find a healthier life despite their condition.
Encourage others to attend treatment: If a fellow lawyer approaches you and admits their personal concerns, encourage them to seek help. Suggest a rehab facility specializing in helping lawyers find freedom in recovery, perhaps the one you attended. The more you discuss the importance and power of receiving treatment, the more stigma will be reduced.
Mental Health and Addiction Treatment for Lawyers in Florida
If you are a lawyer seeking rehab for professionals, finding one who meets your needs is crucial. Attending a program designed with you in mind will teach you healthy skills and coping mechanisms to make your recovery more accessible and manageable.
At Tranquil Shores, we understand that your law firm must continue while you receive necessary care at our facility. This is why we allow you to keep and use your laptops and phones so that your work responsibilities are not paused during treatment.
With direct access to the beach, Tranquil Shores offers quality and detail-oriented care. Our 3:1 client-counselor ratio ensures you receive specialized treatment that benefits your needs. If you wish to get started on your individualized treatment today, contact us at 727-391-7001 for the peaceful and private treatment you deserve.
