Dallas County DA Back In Office After Depression Treatment
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk returned to work on Thursday after being treated for mental illness. Hawk had left office in May to seek help for severe depression.
"I have been able to work with a team of mental health professionals to aggressively combat my mental illness to ensure that I am healthy," Hawk said in a statement released after her return. Part of her treatment, Hawk explained, included lowering her time in the public eye and avoiding a locked in date for coming back to work.
The district attorney claimed to have kept "constant contact" with her administration during her time away with doctors. "We have decided that I am ready to physically return to my job as the Dallas County District Attorney," Hawk said, "and continue my commitment of seeking justice on behalf of our community."
This was not the first time that Hawk had dismissed herself from office due to her battle with depression. She was absent for about two months during the fall of last year, which had some of her opponents calling for her to be removed from the district attorney position entirely.
"Maintaining optimal mental health will always be a priority. Mental illness is a lifelong disease," Hawk said. "I am incredibly blessed to have such a strong and supportive administrative team and such incredible attorneys, investigators and staff who have handled my absence with both grace and professionalism."
Hawk concluded, "I look forward to once again working with my staff to make Dallas County safe and thriving."