Silent Struggles: Gendered Pressures on Male Lawyers Contribute to Depression

Posted on by Dan

This guest blog is written by Shebna N. Osanmoh, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner affiliated with Savant Care, Los Altos, CA, a mental health clinic.

The legal profession is known for long hours, adversarial culture, and high stakes. While all lawyers are vulnerable to mental health issues, an often overlooked group may be suffering in silence—mainly male lawyers.

There’s been increasing awareness of mental health in the legal field, but how depression shows up and is managed in men has been underexamined. This silence is driven by gender expectations, social stigma, and professional pressures, and can lead to serious consequences.

The Silent Burden of Stoicism

From their first year in law school, male lawyers are conditioned to demonstrate competence, assertiveness, and composure. They are trained to suppress their emotions in the courtroom, stay calm under pressure, and base their decisions on logic rather than feelings. These traits are valued professionally, but they can be harmful personally.

The cultural script for male lawyers dictates that they must maintain a strong image at all times. Emotional vulnerability? That’s a weakness. Needing support? It’s a sign you can’t handle the heat. This idealized version of the male lawyer —stoic, confident, and endlessly resilient —leaves little room for authentic emotional experience.

In reality, the pressure to uphold this image can be overwhelming. And because showing distress can seem like a threat to their professional identity, many male attorneys suppress their struggles instead of speaking out.

Depression in the Legal Profession: A Gender Breakdown

Mental health struggles are common daily among legal professionals. According to the 2016 study by the American Bar Association (ABA) and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation:

  • 28% of lawyers reported depression.
  • 19% had anxiety.
  • 21% were problem drinkers.

This study showed the profession’s overall crisis but also highlighted an important detail: women were more likely to report symptoms and seek help. Meanwhile, men were more likely to underreport and rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use.

Other studies support this trend. While women in the legal field may have slightly higher depression rates, they are also more likely to seek treatment and openly share their struggles. Men, however, tend to minimize their symptoms or internalize them, making their suffering less visible but not necessarily less serious.

How Male Depression Looks Different

One reason depression in men is harder to identify is that it often manifests differently than in women.

While women may display more “internalized” symptoms such as sadness, tearfulness, or feelings of worthlessness, men are more likely to show “externalized” signs of depression, such as:

  • Irritability or anger
  • Risk-taking behaviors (including reckless driving or substance use)
  • Emotional withdrawal or detachment
  • Workaholism
  • Aggression or hostility
  • Physical complaints (e.g., headaches, fatigue, sleep issues)

These signs might not be recognized as depression by the individual or those around them. In the legal world, these behaviors can even be mistaken for passion, competitiveness, or a true dedication to the job. Unfortunately, these misunderstandings allow depression to go unnoticed.

The Gendered Stigma: Why Men Stay Silent

Stigma prevents help-seeking during mental health crises, and it differs by gender. Society’s traditional view of masculinity encourages being tough, stoic, and independent. Admitting to emotional struggles feels like betraying that identity.

For male lawyers, this stigma is exacerbated by the highly competitive and perfectionist culture of the law. Many fear that revealing their struggles will be perceived as a sign of instability, weakness, or unfitness for leadership.

Women are also impacted by stigma, but research shows that they receive more social support for being vulnerable and are more likely to openly discuss emotional struggles. Male attorneys, however, receive subtle messages that emotions should be hidden or kept in check.

This internalized stigma leads to the following:

  • Reluctance to seek therapy
  • Denial or minimization of symptoms
  • Fear of professional repercussions
  • Self-medication through drugs or alcohol

It’s not that men don’t suffer; it’s that they’ve been conditioned not to talk about it.

A Hidden Crisis: Coping in the Wrong Ways

Faced with untreated depression and a culture that discourages emotional openness, many male attorneys resort to unhealthy coping strategies. Alcohol is one of the most common.

In the ABA study, male lawyers were more likely than female lawyers to report risky drinking behavior often as a form of self-medication. Similarly, workaholism, another accepted yet harmful outlet, can mask depression while reinforcing professional success.

These coping mechanisms don’t solve the problem. They make it worse. Tragically, some male lawyers feel so trapped in their silence that they see no way out. The legal profession has one of the highest suicide rates of any field, with men making up the majority of those deaths.

Are Treatment Approaches for Men Different?   

Yes, and they should be. Research in psychology has shown that men benefit from treatment approaches that are tailored to how they express and process distress. For example:

  • Solution-focused therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can appeal to men who want actionable strategies and tangible goals.
  • Group therapy for men allows them to see they’re not alone and to challenge masculine norms that discourage vulnerability.
  • Male-focused therapists or practitioners who understand gender norms can create a safer space for individuals to express themselves.
  • Psychoeducation helps men reframe emotional challenges not as weaknesses but as human experiences that deserve attention. Unfortunately, many male lawyers don’t seek treatment or drop out of treatment due to discomfort with traditional talk therapy. That’s why law firms and support services must expand their mental health offerings to include gender-sensitive care models.

What Law Firms Can Do Differently

A systemic problem requires systemic change. If male lawyers are suffering in silence, the profession must respond with a louder, more inclusive response.

Here’s how:

1. Mental Health as a Leadership Strength

When senior male attorneys talk openly about their mental health journeys, they dismantle stigma. Vulnerability in leadership sends a powerful message: seeking help isn’t a liability. It’s a form of courage.

2. Make Help Easy and Private

Firms should ensure that Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), therapists, and mental health days are clearly communicated, confidential, and covered by insurance. The easier and safer it is to seek help, the more likely men are to do so.

3. Educate Around Gender and Mental Health

Hold regular training that teaches staff to recognize how depression manifests differently across genders. Normalize a wide range of emotional expressions and validate them in professional spaces.

4. Destigmatize Help-Seeking Through Policy

Encourage mental health days. Include mental health check-ins in performance reviews. Offer anonymous wellness surveys. The goal is to provide institutional mental health lessons as a priority, not an afterthought.

5. Tailored Mental Health Resources for Men

Consider collaborating with counselors specializing in men’s psychology. Establish peer support groups for men within your organization. Provide a resource section that lists readings and video content related to men’s mental health and masculinity.

Rewriting the Narrative

It is now time to analyze the story that strength means silence. The truth is that someone with courage does sit with pain. Asking for help and prioritizing well-being in a culture that is often opposed to such a notion of unworthiness.

For many years, the mental health struggles of male lawyers have been overlooked or downplayed, often hidden behind the appeal of prestige and performance. But behind every polished closing argument and late-night email, there may be a man who is barely holding it together.

As a profession, we owe it to ourselves and to each other to improve. Because mental health isn’t a gender issue, it’s a human issue. And no one, no matter how tough, smart, or successful, should have to suffer in silence.

If you or someone you know is struggling, confidential help is available.

Each state provides a Lawyers Assistance Program that offers free, confidential support to attorneys, judges, and law students dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, or other mental health and addiction issues. For a complete directory organized by state, visit the Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs (CoLAP) website for contact details. You can also reach out to your local mental health hotline, a therapist, or your Employee Assistance Program.

You are not alone.

Author Bio:

Shebna N. Osanmoh, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner affiliated with Savant Care, Los Altos, CA, a mental health clinic. He has extensive experience and a Master’s from Walden University. He provides compassionate, holistic care for a wide range of mental health conditions.

 

 

 

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209 thoughts on “Silent Struggles: Gendered Pressures on Male Lawyers Contribute to Depression”

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