Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers.

• Author: Foster-Morales, Dori
• Position: Annual Reports of Committees of the Florida Bar: 2018-2019

The purpose of the Standing Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers is to implement the 2018-19 Florida Bar Strategic Plan priority that focuses on the mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers. The committee is continuing the work of the Special Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers, including:

* An educational component to destigmatize mental illness in the legal community;

* Educating employers, judges, and lawyers how to identify and address mental health illness of Florida lawyers and create "best practices" on how to address mental health issues;

* Educating lawyers about the benefits of balancing personal life and career obligations;

Provided health and wellness programs to provide Florida lawyers with healthy strategies to deal with the pressures of their practices to enhance the mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers;

* Educating voluntary bar associations on mental health and wellness programs so they may better assist their members at the local level;

* Expanding the accreditation definition so as to broaden the scope of what constitutes and health and wellness CLE program;

* Developing new and innovative CLEs on mental health and wellness issues; Interfaced with Florida Lawyer's Assistance, Inc., to broaden their reach to all members, not limited to those members facing Bar grievance issues; and

* Creating a special, interdisciplinary committee to study and improve The Florida Bar's rules and programming related to mental health and wellness of Florida lawyers and ensuring that Bar members (including judges) are aware of mental health issues and can access those needed services.

The committee had three meetings this year and formed four subcommittees to better focus the work of the committee: Continuing Legal Education; Member Benefits & RFI Review; Outreach to Law Schools; and Communication and Outreach to Voluntary Bar Associations.

* Accomplishments * Created a new page on The Florida Bar website for all resources and member benefits associated with mental health and wellness.

* Produced a free two-hour CLE for the 2018 Florida Bar Annual Convention Presidential Showcase: Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers.

* Sponsored the CLE webinar "The Highly Energized, Engaged, and Effective Attorney," presented by Amy Wood.

* Sponsored the CLE webinar, "Law and the Good Life" presented by Amy Wood.

* Added two new member benefits related to mental health and wellness...