Illinois lawyers survey: 3% report problem gambling, with stress and mental health concerns widespread

The Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program has published the results of a well-being survey based on responses from 6,700 lawyers. The research covers mental health, stress levels, and alcohol and drug use, and it also looks at gambling behaviour among members of the legal profession.

According to the findings, 3% of respondents said they had experienced problem gambling. Of those, 53% said they gambled at least once a week and 12% said they gambled daily. Lawyers aged between 25 and 35 were the most likely to be gambling. About 30% of the problem gamblers reported negative consequences in their lives because of the activity. The survey also noted that gambling is easier to hide than alcohol or drug addiction.

Overall, 50% of the lawyers surveyed had taken part in some form of gambling. Most of these participants engaged in a variety of activities (29%), while 20% only bought lottery tickets. Among the 49% of lawyers who had gambled in the past year, 6% said they had wagered more than they intended, 3% said they had lied to friends and family about their gambling, and 1% said it had led to financial difficulties.

Respondents gave several reasons for gambling. The thrill of winning or competition was cited by 74%, while 50% said it was entertaining and fun. A further 34% said they gambled to escape their worries, and 23% said they did so to recover money lost previously. The last of these points to the presence of common gambling fallacies even among highly educated professionals. Only 3% of respondents sought help for their gambling behaviour.

The survey also reflects broader wellbeing concerns in the profession. One in five Illinois lawyers described their mental health as fair or poor, and a third of that group said they had experienced suicidal thoughts. Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program executive director Diana Uchiyama, who announced the results, described mental well-being in the profession as "the elephant in the room." The study is the latest to examine mental health among lawyers, a group known for high rates of stress, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.