H C B A
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
John A. Schifino – Gunster
M E S S A G E
Destigmatizing mental Health and wellness:
a Discussion among Lawyers
A
on april 30, HCBa is partnering with the HawL to host
a mental Health and wellness Town Hall meeting.
ccording to a 2016 study published by
the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
and the American Bar Association
Commission on Lawyer Assistance
Programs, 21 percent of licensed,
employed attorneys are clinical problem drinkers, 28
percent struggle with some level of depression, and 19
percent suffer from anxiety. 1 These percentages far
outpace those of the general population. Most troubling,
the suicide rate for lawyers is double that of the general
population. 2 These statistics do not describe a healthy
profession. Too many of our colleagues are suffering and
we need to get to work and find a solution.
We have chosen a stressful profession. To get here, we
endured three tough years of law school, a grueling bar
exam (or two), and long work hours necessary to
establish a practice. We often find ourselves in highly
competitive and adversarial arenas. Many of us are
driven by tight deadlines, billable demands, collection
requirements, and an increasing amount of nonbillable
obligations. We gladly shoulder our clients’ burdens and
make ourselves available 24/7. We’re taught to identify
vulnerabilities and weaknesses in our cases and our
4
opponents’ cases, and to anticipate everything that can
go wrong. Even though our true tasks are to solve
problems and help others be successful, we too often fall
back on pessimisms. It’s no wonder we’re facing such
challenges to the health and wellness of our bar.
In July of 2017, the Florida Bar Board of Governors
created a Special Committee on Mental Health and
Wellness of Florida Lawyers. Now a standing
committee chaired by Florida Bar President-Elect
Designate and Board of Governor Dori Foster-Morales,
the committee members are working to destigmatize
mental illness within our legal community, educate
lawyers, judges, and employers on how to identify and
address mental health issues among lawyers, and create
“best practices” on how to address mental health
issues. Dori and the entire committee have been
working diligently and have done a fantastic job getting
the message out. For more information and to explore
resources provided by The Florida Bar, take a moment
to visit the committee’s website at www.floridabar.org/
member/healthandwellnesscenter/.
Continued on page 5
JAN - FEB 2019
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HCBA LAWYER