HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
HEALTH & WELLNESS CORNER
Florida Lawyers Helpline : A Resource for Wellness
BRUCE BLITMAN
In a recent interview with The Florida Bar News , Florida Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina , Jr . spoke about the many stresses lawyers face in their day-to-day lives . He stated : It doesn ' t matter where in life you are , all attorneys suffer from the same things-the work load , the constant juggling of responsibilities , and the pressures to provide for their families . We all have similar problems , whether you ' re in Coral Gables , Orlando , or Tallahassee ... The phone and emails never stop . The expectation is it ' s 24 / 7 ..." (" Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina , Jr . Discusses Stress , Mental Health , and the Value of Bar Involvement ," by Mark D . Killian , Editor , The Florida Bar News / December 2024 , page 4 ). In this interview , Sancheez-Medina also identified the Florida Lawyers Helpline as a key resource for wellness in the legal profession .
The Florida Lawyers Helpline ( 833-351- 9355 ) is a CONFIDENTIAL service offering FREE counseling to Florida Bar members in good standing as well as paralegals . The Helpline provides up to five ( 5 ) FREE mental health sessions annually to members and paralegals , helping them more effectively navigate personal and professional pressures and challenges . The Helpline provides counseling resources that can quickly and professionally help them manage problems affecting their personal and work lives . This help is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL and is just a call away . Masters level counselors answer the phone 24 / 7 / 365 to provide immediate support and assistance .
SERVICES OFFERED : The Helpline can help lawyers and paralegals who are struggling with burnout ; work stress ; financial concerns ; relationship issues ; anxiety ; depression ; substance or alcohol use ; or any other emotional difficulties . The impact of these challenges can be profound . The Helpline also provides referrals for childcare and eldercare resources such as day cares ; after school programs ; summer camps ; respite care ; home safety evaluations ; medication reminder resources ; etc . Additionally , Bar members can access a financial consultation on matters such as retirement ; savings ; budgeting ; debt consolidation and even general tax questions .
You can call The Florida Lawyers Helpline at 833-FL1- WELL ( 833-351-9355 ) at ANY TIME , on ANY DAY , 24 / 7 / 365 . All calls are FREE and COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL or you can visit the website to submit a contact form .
Sanchez-Medina concluded his interview by stating : " The Florida Bar can ' t fundamentally change our profession or the delivery of legal services , but we can create a supportive environment where we talk about these issues and find productive , positive ways to deal with them ."
Lawyers and paralegals , you are not alone . The Florida Lawyers Helpline can provide hope and help .
Upchurch Watson White & Max MEDIATION GROUP
Reggie Hicks Mediator and Arbitrator
rhicks @ uww-adr . com
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Mediator / Arbitrator Reginald D . Hicks has joined its distinguished panel .
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PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 17