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Dallas County DA Susan Hawk Seeks Treatment In Arizona, Days After Return From Houston

Susan Hawk
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Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk is welcomed back in October 2015 following her first extended absence for medical care.

Just over a week since she returned, Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk is leaving for Arizona to continue treatment for depression.

Hawk came back to Dallas earlier this month from her most recent stint at the Menninger Clinic in Houston, where she was undergoing treatment since May 20. She returned June 10.

In news release from the district attorney’s office, Hawk said:

“Mental illness is a fluid and dynamic disease that calls for unexpected and prolonged treatment. Like tens of millions of Americans that suffer from mental illness, I did not choose this disease, but I am choosing to treat it aggressively and openly in an effort to provide transparency from our office, and to encourage others living with similar struggles to be proactive in treatment and not live in shame.”

She said  she’s committed to making her health a top priority so she can honor her duties to Dallas County, and she thanked her team for supporting her and working hard in her absence.

Hawk has been in and out of treatment for depression and anxiety since August 2015.

She remains under the care of mental health professionals as they form a treatment plan and set a date for her return to the district attorney's office.

In October, after a two-month absence, she talked about the mental illness, treatment and lessons learned with KERA.   

"I’ll tell you, I love this job so much. I care about the courthouse, the criminal justice system, I’ve dedicated my entire adult life to this. If there was a second or a moment that I felt like I was not capable of doing this job, I would step down.”

Hawk was elected to the position in 2014.Listen to her conversation with KERA about her plans as district attorney days before she took office.