Substance Abuse, Chronic Stress, Trauma, and Mental Health in Challenging Times

Expired

Program Number

31133

Program Date

2021-07-12

CLE Credits

For over a year, our profession has been on the front lines of seismic societal changes and disruptions. While we already face stress daily and are subject to particular circumstances which can lead to higher levels of stress than for most other members of the population, this has been exacerbated. There is a clearly recognized continuum where unresolved chronic stress becomes a predictor for addiction and mental illness, particularly depression, which are also more prevalent among lawyers. By understanding this continuum, the facts about addiction and mental illness, and the particular ways in which current stressor affect us, lawyers can reduce their risk and, hopefully, get help earlier when there is a mental health or addiction/dependency problem. Signs, symptoms, risk factors and recovery regarding these problems will be presented.