The Florida Bar News, August 26, 2026

The Florida Lawyers Helpline can be reached at 833-351-9355 (833-FL1-WELL), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

The pressures of practicing law rarely wait for a convenient time, and neither does the Florida Lawyers Helpline.

Available around the clock, the free and confidential service gives Florida Bar members and Florida Registered Paralegals immediate access to mental health and wellness support, including licensed clinicians, counseling, coaching, and practical work-life resources.

The message from The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers is simple: Save the number before you need it. The committee also is asking Florida’s chief judges to help make sure the information reaches lawyers practicing in their courts.

The Florida Lawyers Helpline can be reached at 833-351-9355 (833-FL1-WELL), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are answered by a licensed clinician — not an answering service — with an average connection time of less than 10 seconds.

And members do not have to be in crisis to call.

The Helpline was designed to provide an early, accessible point of contact for lawyers dealing with stress, anxiety, burnout, substance use, relationship problems, grief, work-life concerns, or other challenges that can gradually affect their professional and personal lives.

“Early” is an important part of the message.

Stress can build gradually, affecting sleep, concentration, relationships, and job performance before a lawyer recognizes that help may be needed. The Helpline offers a way to address those problems before they escalate into burnout or more serious consequences.

Five Free Counseling Sessions and More

Among the Helpline’s benefits are five free counseling sessions per incident, available by phone, video, or in person.

The program also provides five free coaching sessions per year. Coaching is intended to be practical and solution-focused, addressing issues such as workload and time management, setting boundaries, communication, leadership responsibilities, career transitions, and burnout prevention.

The assistance goes beyond counseling and coaching. Members can get help with financial concerns such as budgeting, debt, savings, and retirement questions, as well as referrals for childcare, eldercare, and household services.

And those who prefer to work on their own can use the Helpline’s enhanced digital platform, which includes mental health check-ins, Guided Paths, self-guided digital therapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy, mood tracking, journaling, mindfulness and meditation tools, and a library of expert-developed resources.

The platform was enhanced in March, making it easier to schedule services, access digital resources, and connect with care while maintaining the 24/7 telephone service.

Confidential Means Confidential

For many lawyers, one of the most key features may be the program’s confidentiality.

Helpline services are protected by HIPAA, and no personally identifiable information is shared with The Florida Bar. The Bar receives only aggregate utilization information, such as overall program usage. That means lawyers can reach out without worrying that asking for help will become a matter of professional record.

Chief Judges Asked to Spread the Word

The Standing Committee on Mental Health and Wellness of Florida Lawyers also is asking Florida’s chief judges to help make sure the information reaches lawyers throughout the state.

In a letter to the chief judges, committee Chair Tarlika Nunez-Navarro noted that the demands of legal practice can affect not only individual lawyers and their families but also courtroom efficiency, professionalism, and client representation.

The committee is asking chief judges to share information about the Helpline with judges, magistrates, hearing officers, court administrators, and local voluntary bar leaders. It also is encouraging courts to include the Helpline number and website in appropriate court communications, administrative materials, and local bar communications.

“The practice of law is demanding by nature,” the committee says.

But help is available and lawyers don’t have to wait until they’re overwhelmed to use it.

More information, including access to the digital platform and promotional materials, is available through The Florida Bar’s Florida Lawyers Helpline.

VIEWS AND CONCLUSIONS EXPRESSED IN ARTICLES HEREIN ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF FLORIDA BAR STAFF, OFFICIALS, OR BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FLORIDA BAR.