The number of law students who need help with their emotional or mental health is on the rise, according to a new study. Meanwhile, schools are implementing programs to address student well-being.
Being a law student can be stressful. Intense classes, extracurriculars and exams pull students in many different directions. Not to mention the effects of the pandemic, which caused isolation, delays and setbacks in moving on to a legal career.
It’s no wonder that mental health issues among law students are greater than ever before.
“What is clear is that our students need help,” wrote the authors of “It Is Okay to Not Be Okay: The 2021 Survey of Law Student Well-being.” The study is a follow-up to a 2014 study produced by David Jaffe, associate dean for student affairs at American University Washington College of Law; Katherine Bender, assistant professor of counselor education at Bridgewater State University; and Jerome M. Organ, a professor at University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minnesota.
The study, published in the University of Louisville Law Review, reports the findings of a survey given to students at 39 law schools.
Results show that nearly 70% of respondents said they had needed help with emotional or mental health issues in the past year.
Last time the survey was administered, in 2014, about 42% reported needing help.
Among the recently surveyed students, 33% reported that they had had a diagnosis of depression at some point, and 40% reported a diagnosis of anxiety.
In 2014, the percentage reporting a diagnosis of depression was 18%, while 21% reported a diagnosis of anxiety.
The report notes that isolation from the pandemic may have contributed to this increase in mental health problems. Students took the survey during the pandemic, but the results align with many other studies that show mental health is on the rise, especially among young adults.
“Law students were responding to the survey during the pandemic, where concerns about one’s health and those of loved ones were presumably at a premium, as was a growing sense of isolation, which will in many instances exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression,” Jaffe said.
The study also shows that trauma may be an important factor in law student well-being, as 80% reported that they had experienced trauma in one or more of 15 categories during their lifetimes.
“We were surprised by the significant percentage of students who indicated having experienced some type of trauma in their lives,” Jaffe noted. “This is an area in which law schools have paid little attention; we likely need to change that.”
The survey also showed that 11% of respondents had thought seriously about suicide in the past year, up from 6% in 2014. Meanwhile, 16% said they had intentionally hurt themselves in the past year without intending to kill themselves, compared to 9% in 2014. Students reported taking more antidepressants and using more marijuana than in 2014, but binge drinking was down compared to previous figures.
“We want our law students to succeed,” the article says. “However, if we continue to ask our law students to suffer in silence by not advocating for and supporting their advocacy for positive change, we shirk our own responsibilities in aiding the development of their best selves. While some law school administrators may maintain they are not responsible for the personal well-being of their students, this student development is very much a part of the professional formation now expected at every law school.”
Some survey questions were open-ended, asking, for example, how schools could help with students’ mental well-being. Students’ suggestions include academic support, on-campus counseling, peer mentors, social events, therapy dogs and caring faculty.
“Law schools have gotten much better at being proactive around these issues,” Jaffe said. “Bringing the onsite or university counselor to the campus starting at orientation sends the message that the school cares about these issues. Having those individuals present . . . underscores the message that the bar wants students to get help and that they will not be delayed or denied admission if they do so.”
Jaffe said professors should try to model positive mental health in their classrooms. This could include breathing exercises, playing music at the start of class or offering encouraging words.
Schools such as New England Law | Boston and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law have implemented programs and activities to improve student well-being.
Pepperdine Caruso Law holds a mental health week and provides well-being training during orientation. Activities include massages and spending time with therapy dogs.
The school has started a well-being task force made up of students, faculty, alumni and staff. It works to implement and improve mental health initiatives provided by the school. The school also uses Early Alert, a weekly text check-in service, to monitor students’ mental health and provide individual and group support.
New England Law has launched a teletherapy program for students in partnership with Uwill. It provides access to licensed professional counselors through video, phone, chat or message.
“At a time when the need for mental health support has never been more critical, this partnership will serve as New England Law’s quick reaction force, enabling our students to get the help they need when they need it,” said Lisa Freudenheim, co-acting dean of New England Law.
Support can also come from within. Transitioning to law school can be challenging, so students should practice positive mental health habits. Jaffe said that maintaining hobbies and personal interests can help with well-being and help avoid burnout.
“If we’re not addressing this in law schools, we’re just passing the buck onto the legal profession,” Jaffe said. “When these issues present themselves, some would say it’s our obligation as educators to find some way to do it. We need to offer proactive support so that law students can go on to be productive and supportive to their clients.”
5 ways to care for your mental health
1. Exercise regularly
2. Maintain a healthful diet and stay hydrated
3. Get enough sleep
4. Practice gratitude and positivity
5. Stay connected to friends and family
Resources for students
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential 24-hour support for crisis intervention and emotional distress. Call 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
National Alliance on Mental Illness has a website with resources for mental health and well-being. The NAMI HelpLine can be reached 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, by texting “HelpLine” to 62640. You can also call 800-950-NAMI.
This story originally ran in the Fall 2022 issue of The National Jurist.
