Meet Dan Lukasik

Dan is a lawyer, mental health advocate, law professor, and public speaker who has delivered over 250 presentations on stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression across the U.S.

His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, WebMD, and many other national and international media outlets.

He is the executive producer of two mental health documentaries.

“My Brother Lost in Time: A Bipolar Life” is a 15-minute documentary about Dan and his younger brother, Paul, that premiered in 2024. This heartfelt short film explores the bond between the brothers and their shared struggles with mental illness. Dan has lived with major depression for the past 25 years, and his brother Paul, who suffered from bipolar disorder, tragically passed away in 2023. The film premiered on PBS and is available to watch on its YouTube page. New York State NAMI (the National Alliance for Mental Illness) screened the film at its 2025 conference, and Dan delivered the keynote speech. The organization awarded him its “2025 Leader of Mental Health Awareness Award.”

“Travels with George: A Journey Through Depression, Connection, and Friendship” is a 20-minute documentary that shares the story of Dan and his friendship with a nine-year-old boy named George, which began 10 years ago, and how it helped him heal and manage his depression. This inspirational film premiered before a sold-out audience in October 2025 and will make its television debut on PBS.

Dan created two websites. The first, Lawyers with Depression, was launched fifteen years ago to educate, support, and offer hope to those in the legal profession who struggle with depression and other mental health issues.  For his work and advocacy, Dan has received several awards, including The New York State Bar Association’s “Award of Merit” and the University at Buffalo School of Law’s “Distinguished Alumni Award.” He is a law professor at UB, where he teaches the course “Mental Health and Well-Being in the Legal Profession,” and he has guest lectured at law schools such as Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania.

The second website, the Buffalo Depression Project, was launched in 2025 to offer information, resources, and support to the one million people in Buffalo and the Western New York community.

For the past six years, Dan has been the New York State Wellness Coordinator, creating mental health and wellness programs for the state court system’s 16,000 employees.