A1.1 It is the right thing to do. Mentally well employees foster enterprise morale & productivity, & an atmosphere of authenticity, light heart & focused mind. Colleagues thinking of self-harm may pose risk to co-workers who might have feelings of harming themselves.

#ElevateTheConvo A1.1 First, it is the right thing to do. Mentally well employees foster enterprise morale & productivity, and an atmosphere of authenticity & a light heart. Colleagues thinking of self-harm may pose risk to co-workers who might experience thoughts of self-harm

#ElevateTheConvo A1.2 Progressive law firms where I’ve given mental health & selfcare CLE talks build attorney & staff resilience & wellbeing through mentoring, team-focus, & creating safe sharing spaces which foster inclusion & acceptance.

#ElevateTheConvo A1.3 Sharing is the single most effective weapon in the fight against stigma & sharing makes us feel authentic & open, which increases wellbeing, performance, morale, & retention. hbr.org/2018/11/we-nee…

#ElevateTheConvo A1.3 In my talks, when I share my journey through & recovery from a severe depression, others feel safe to share their own challenges & to get help. Tell your story & build what I call a Supportive Energizing And Loving (SEAL) Team. No colleague left behind!

#ElevateTheConvo A2.1 Even pre-COVID, 11.5% of lawyers reported suicidal ideation. Many law firms where I speak on mental wellness & selfcare have adopted the ABA lawyer wellbeing pledge & train lawyers & staff on recognition of mental health conditions & suicide prevention.

#ElevateTheConvo A2.2 This is the study by my friend and advisor Patrick Krill and his colleagues on attorney mental illness and addiction: hazeldenbettyford.org/about-us/news-…

#ElevateTheConvo A2.3 After an attorney suicide at one of my firm-clients, the firm took the issues of legal professionals' mental illness and suicide head on by holding a firm-wide mental wellness Zoom “town hall” at which I spoke attended by 1,000 of its lawyers & staff.

#ElevateTheConvo A2.4 As one of my heroes, #GlennClose says “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, [and] more unashamed conversation about illnesses that affect not only individuals, but their families as well.”

#ElevateTheConvo A2.5 By getting ahead of the issue of suicide and depression, &promoting candor & sharing, the firm defused stigma by normalizing mental illness & addiction. That approach helped take these issues out of the shadows of shame & denial, & helping employees get help

#ElevateTheConvo A3.1 Employees fear the potential career risk of admitting to mental illness or addiction. Some orgs. fail to adopt mental wellness best practices incl. mentoring, safe sharing spaces, and strategic stigma reduction and selfcare training.

#ElevateTheConvo A3.2 Moderate exercise is my top self-care strategy.lightatseaatstoutheart.org/2020/08/19/exe… Along with chillin' with Mo

#ElevateTheConvo A3.4 Enterprises often fail to walk the walk of work-life balance. Sometimes only lip service is paid to practicing self-care. Organizations seem to "check the box" without really focusing on these critically important, and very simple wellness strategies.

#ElevateTheConvo A3.5 Ironically, otbsessively focusing on profits per partner risks stressing the revenue producers to the point of breakdown. In contrast, selfcare and balance lead to increased profits.

#ElevateTheConvo A3.6 Enterprises engage EAP resources but do not promote them (and I have seen cases in which they are not even described to employees which can be intimidating).

#ElevateTheConvo A4.1 I think that the future is bright! There is so much hope for recovery and healing. I am living proof of that. I survived my father's suicide and came close to taking my own life 9 yrs. ago.

#ElevateTheConvo A4.2 After a year of therapies, love of family and friends and intentional selfcare (esp.exercise), I entered 2014 with renewed hope, and vitality. The world was in technicolor and I saw myself in the mirror again.

#ElevateTheConvo A4.3 The most important path forward to defeating stigma, normalizing mental health conditions (they are not your fault) and preventing suicide is by sharing our challenges.

#ElevateTheConvo A4.4 It is when we share our wounds that we build community. My journey has become a blessing. People admire rather than criticize me when I share. So many folks have their own stories. Tell them yours and give them space to share theirs. That way healing lies.

#ElevateTheConvo A4.5 In closing, may you all go forward with a lighter heart & a more focused mind. It has been an honor to present with all of my co-panelists. Sally, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. YOU ARE A WARRIOR!