The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and Lawyers Concerns for Lawyers of Pennsylvania recently produced and published an incredibly important video, titled Just Ask: How We Must Stop Minding Our Own Business in the Legal World, in which prominent, successful lawyers talk about their personal challenges with suicide. Many of the lawyers speaking in the video have attempted suicide. Others lost loved ones to suicide. And they all share the same message: Ask for help when you need it, and you will receive it.

This is an important video for anyone to watch, especially for lawyers, and most especially for law students.

I talk with a lot of legal educators, and I am heartened to see that more and more legal educators recognize the importance of teaching law students how to have a sustainable practice – one that offers fulfillment and avoids physical and emotional burnout. In addition to learning about time management, stress management, and life/work prioritization, it’s important that students be aware of the risks they face and how to manage them. I hope this movie will be used in many educational programs and a powerful opening experience leading to open, honest discussions that will help law students take better care of themselves and of each other.

My congratulations to the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program and the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania for producing such an incredibly important movie, and my sincere appreciation and respect to the brave, compassionate individuals who stepped forward to share their stories in the video.