Cleary Gottlieb’s 2020 Mental Health Awareness Month Highlights

June 10, 2020

Cleary Gottlieb recognized Mental Health Awareness Month on a firmwide basis, with virtual programming on a broad range of topics related to well-being.

The firm’s Mental Health Awareness Month programming was geared toward providing all members of the global Cleary community strategies and support to cultivate mental health, at all times and particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The firm’s guests and programs in May included:

  • Krill Strategies Principal and Founder Patrick Krill, a leading authority on mental health and addiction in the legal profession, who shared insights into how to protect well-being while navigating uncertain times.
  • Stress & Resilience Institute Founder and CEO Paula Davis-Laack, who offered tools and resources to help nourish mental health and remain resilient in the face of stressors.
  • Ford Foundation President and Cleary alumnus Darren Walker, who spoke with Managing Partner Michael Gerstenzang about social justice philanthropy, our collective humanity, the importance of self-care, and the power of the arts in coping with emotional experiences (read more here).
  • NYU Langone Chaplain Matthew Dimick, who provided words of comfort, reassurance, and advice about navigating grief and bereavement.
  • NYC Bar and DC Bar Lawyer Assistance Programs, which provided insight into free, confidential mental health-related services available to members of the legal profession through the American Bar Association and peer support through the Lawyers Depression Project.
  • “When It All Changed,” a specially-curated video montage comprising photos taken by Cleary alumnus and Argentine photographer, Carlos von der Heyde, showcasing a broad range of emotional experiences and coping mechanisms during a period of unprecedented upheaval and change.
  • Weekly mindfulness sessions tailored to legal professionals with meditation expert Jon Krop, which have been extended beyond the month of May.

Cleary’s commitment to approaching health from a holistic perspective was a central focus during Mental Health Awareness Month – and is reflected in a broad range of ongoing well-being initiatives and resources available throughout the year.