By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-925861.mp3
Buffalo, NY – A Conversation About Depression will be held Monday night at Daeman College. a Buffalo lawyer is working to educate the community about the symptoms, effects and treatment.
There are about 20-million people suffering from depression in the U.S. But lawyers suffer from it at the rate twice of the national population.
"I woke up with this the sun and my coffee was my friend," said attorney Dan Lukasik.
The 49-year old Lukasik has been struggling with depression for past ten years. But Lukasik has taken a positive path in coping with his depression and is reaching out to attorneys across the globe. He even started the national Website, lawyers with depression-dot-com three years ago.
"I know many, many, many professional people. People from all walks of life who are living with depression and who are very successful, confident people. Judges, lawyers doctors dentists. These people are overcoming depression or they've contained it to such a degree that they are living normal lives," said Lukasik.
Lukasik said he hit some very difficult low points before he had his depression in check.
"Every day, for a long time, I was just hanging on." Lukasik.
About 400 people are expected to attend Lukasik conversation about depression. It will include a panel of experts and a chance for the anyone in the audience to talk about depression.
Monday night's conversation begins at 7 at Daemen and is free and open to the public.
Lukasik is seeking to create an openness about depression which is consider the leading cause of disability in this country.