HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5 | Page 8

Y L D P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E Melissa Mora - Adventist Health System putting You and wellness first M Let’s all be part of the change and encourage each other to maintain a healthy lifestyle to improve the mental health issues faced by our profession. ay is designated by The Florida Bar YLD as a “Health & Wellness Month.” This initiative was designed by The Florida Bar YLD to bring aware ness to mental and physical issues that affect the quality of life of lawyers in Florida. I have had numerous discussions with young lawyers and graduating law students who wonder how they can continue to maintain wellness and balance when entering the legal profession. The Florida Bar YLD representatives heard the same sentiments and decided to do something about it. Many law firms and other employers also are focusing on mental and physical health initiatives to recruit and maintain young lawyers. These initiatives include educational efforts, weight loss challenges, step-tracking challenges, gym membership reimbursements, disease management programs, and a host of other initiatives that encourage wellness in the © Can Stock Photo / rnl 6 workplace. Some of these initiatives even include incentives for program completion. The Florida Bar YLD’s focus on wellness has also led to many of its local affiliates, such as the HCBA YLD, to host activities designed to promote health and wellness among its members. In fact, The Florida Bar YLD offers grant money for these activities, and the HCBA YLD has been a proud recipient of these grants since 2015. Our first event was a fitness class that focused on good eating habits. The last two years, we hosted a paddleboarding event and CLE focused on professionalism and balance. This year, the HCBA YLD is partnering with Camp Tampa and Fresh Kitchen to host its annual wellness event on May 16. Camp Tampa will host a cycling class for YLD members, and Fresh Kitchen will be Continued on page 7 M AY - J U N E 2 0 1 8 | HCBA LAWYER