Why I Created This Website
by Daniel T. Lukasik, Esq.

Depression is often a very isolating experience - - even when the depressed person has a supportive and loving group of people to rely on.  In my own life, I often found relief in reading books about depression, spirituality or health and trying to relate the wisdom in those books to my own life as a lawyer. 

When I searched on-line for materials to read that would support me in my attempt to cope with depression and my law practice, what I found was sometimes helpful, but in the end, insufficient.  Given the prevalence of depression among lawyers,  I was shocked to learn that there were no websites specifically devoted to helping attorneys with depression.

Yes, it is true that (a) there are many sites about depression and (b) many sites about attorneys and the problems encountered in the practice of law.  The general sites about depression are useful and informative.  Yet, they don't particularly grasp a lawyer's predicament.   All or most bar associations have lawyer assistance and/or "Lawyers Helping Lawyers" programs.  These groups can be a good start to helping  lawyers with depression.  However, they often help lawyers with a multitude of problems:  alcoholism, drug addiction, other mental illnesses, gambling and other serious health problems.  When you check out  these  more traditional lawyer programs and/or websites, there is usually little information or support for lawyers struggling with depression.

This website seeks to fill that gap.  It  is a web site specifically devoted to lawyers with depression.  I hope that such a site will be more relevant and helpful for lawyers looking for support.  I also hope that it will make a difference for readers to know that I am a practicing litigator and suffer from depression.  I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist, but I am a person who knows intimately what it is to suffer from depression and simultaneously be a practicing lawyer.
 
As I say in my article:  "Depression: One Attorney's Story", I also established this site to try to be a loving presence to my fellow attorneys, judges and law students who suffer from this terrible disease.  Part of my attempt to be that loving presence is to establish, in one place, articles,  materials and research that may help others in the profession with depression.  I  hope this site helps you in your journey to find health, meaning and purpose while practicing law and living a full life.