As busy working people, we sometimes are so engrossed with taking care of others that we neglect to take care of ourselves. May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. The purposes of this designation include promoting awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness; providing insight as to the struggles of those who suffer such from such illnesses as depression, bipolar disorder and suicidal ideation; and also, to highlight available resources for those who are seeking help. The Florida Bar’s Mental Health & Wellness of Florida Lawyers Committee is working to destigmatize mental illness, recommend best practices and remedies, and help bring more balance into members’ daily professional lives. In support of this mission, the Florida Bar has compiled a wealth of resources for those who are seeking help and those who are seeking to help others: https://www.floridabar.org/member/healthandwellnesscenter/ .

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association has developed a slate of programming promoting Self-Care. We are happy to provide this event to our members and also to members of the general public who would like to participate in this special program. It is our intention to provide daily alternatives of mindfulness and mental health breaks in a fun an engaging curriculum. Earn points with the participation and completion of each event. Our goal is to raise awareness of mental health and provide resources in a manner that is educational and creative. The lineup of our program is as follows:

Monday - Wilkie Wellness Week Kick Off

Tuesday - Take a Second Tuesday

Wednesday - Kindness Wednesday

Thursday - Mental Health Awareness Panel Discussion

Friday - Mindfulness through Black Art

Saturday – Yoga/Mediation Session

At the end of the week, the persons who accumulate the most points will receive a prize intended to promote mental health and wellness. There will be a first, second and third place winners. We encourage you to participate in our daily challenges, and ask that you use the hashtags: #WilkieWellnessWeek, #WellLawyer and #flayld when you share your stories on social media. We would like for this conversation to trend online so that we can shed light on this important issue.