Mental health struggles within the legal profession are not new, but the urgency to address these challenges has reached a boiling point in Texas. According to a 2024 survey by the Texas Bar Association, nearly 30% of practicing lawyers report experiencing some form of mental health issue, such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. A growing number of attorneys are calling for systemic changes to address these issues and create a healthier legal community. One of the leading advocates for this cause is Sarah Thompson, a prominent litigator in Austin, Texas, who has spent the past year spearheading an initiative focused on improving mental health support for lawyers and pushing for structural changes within the profession.
Thompson, a former corporate attorney turned mental health advocate, first noticed the toll that the high-pressure environment of legal work was having on her colleagues when she witnessed a friend’s tragic suicide in 2022. After that, Thompson realized that mental health issues were more prevalent in the legal field than most people recognized, and she decided to take action. In 2025, Thompson launched the Legal Wellness Initiative, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing mental health resources specifically for attorneys. The initiative’s goal is to create a supportive network for attorneys, promote mental health awareness, and work toward the inclusion of mental wellness programs in law schools and continuing legal education.
The initiative offers a wide range of services, including counseling, peer support groups, stress management workshops, and mindfulness training. These programs focus on helping attorneys deal with the stress of their demanding workloads, long hours, and the emotional toll of working on cases that involve high stakes. Since its inception, the initiative has served over 2,000 legal professionals across the state, and its programs are available both virtually and in person.
Thompson’s efforts have been widely recognized, and her work has begun to change the conversation around mental health in the Texas legal community. “We need to stop thinking of mental health struggles as a sign of weakness,” she said during a recent webinar. “The demands of the profession—long hours, high caseloads, and the constant need to perform at the highest level—make attorneys vulnerable to burnout and mental health issues. If we can address these problems early, we can help lawyers stay in their careers longer and more sustainably.”
The Mental Health Crisis in the Legal Profession
The statistics surrounding mental health in the legal profession are startling. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), lawyers experience depression and anxiety at rates significantly higher than the general population, with 19% of lawyers reporting they suffer from severe depression, compared to 7% of the general population. Furthermore, substance abuse is also a significant problem, with approximately 21% of lawyers reporting problematic drinking behaviors. Legal professionals also experience higher rates of suicide compared to other professions.
These issues have been exacerbated by the high-pressure nature of legal work. Law firms often expect employees to bill significant hours, and attorneys are frequently involved in high-stakes litigation or transactional work that leaves little room for personal time or self-care. As a result, many lawyers experience chronic stress, burnout, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from their work on traumatic or emotionally taxing cases, such as family law, criminal defense, or personal injury cases.
However, Thompson’s initiative is not the only sign of progress. Texas is also seeing a shift in how law schools approach mental health. In 2025, The University of Texas School of Law implemented a new program called Mindful Law, designed to introduce law students to mindfulness practices, stress management tools, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to prevent mental health struggles early in their careers. The program was launched in response to feedback from students, many of whom reported feeling overwhelmed by the academic and emotional demands of law school.
Students in the Mindful Law program participate in weekly workshops and are encouraged to take time for self-care. The program also offers resources for students dealing with academic pressure and personal issues, aiming to reduce the incidence of burnout among the next generation of lawyers. Dean Diana Thomas of the University of Texas School of Law has expressed support for these mental health initiatives, stating, “The law is a stressful profession. If we can equip our students with tools to maintain their mental health from the very beginning, we’re not only helping them succeed in law school—we’re setting them up for a healthier career overall.”
Push for Policy Reforms
Thompson’s advocacy also includes policy reforms aimed at improving mental health services for lawyers at the state level. In 2025, she worked with Texas lawmakers to introduce Senate Bill 1315, which would require the Texas Bar Association to incorporate mental health screenings and continuing education about stress management in its certification programs. The bill would also allocate state funds to subsidize mental health services for attorneys and provide low-cost counseling options to members of the Texas Bar.
The bill has received bipartisan support, and several influential Texas law firms have already pledged to make mental health resources more accessible to their employees. Brown McCarroll LLP, one of Texas’ largest law firms, has partnered with Thompson’s initiative to offer therapy services and wellness programs to its attorneys. The firm has also introduced a “mental health day” policy, allowing attorneys to take a paid day off each year to focus on their well-being.
However, Thompson’s advocacy is not without resistance. Some critics argue that these reforms are unnecessary or may be a distraction from the more pressing financial and operational issues law firms face. Others have expressed concern that incorporating mental health programs into law school curriculums or state bar requirements might dilute the profession’s rigor. Despite these challenges, Thompson remains resolute in her mission.
The Road Ahead
In the years ahead, the success of Thompson’s Legal Wellness Initiative and similar programs will depend on continued collaboration between the legal community, educational institutions, and lawmakers. Thompson is optimistic about the future, citing the increasing openness of legal professionals to discuss mental health as a promising sign.
“I’ve seen firsthand how much progress we’ve made in terms of breaking the stigma around mental health in law,” she says. “Lawyers are starting to recognize that they don’t have to sacrifice their well-being for success. There’s room for both.”
Her initiative is an essential step in improving the legal profession’s culture and supporting those who dedicate their lives to upholding justice. The next few years will determine whether Texas can lead the nation in creating a healthier, more supportive legal environment for its attorneys.
