October 10 is World Mental Health Day and Chief Wellness Officer Lori Pines provides timely advice for legal industry professionals in a New York Law Journal article titled, “World Mental Health Day: Acknowledging Pregnancy Loss in the Legal Industry.” In the piece, Lori delves into the sensitive experience of pregnancy loss, highlighting how it can lead to mental health challenges for both female and male attorneys.

As an often overlooked mental health challenge that affects millions, the silence surrounding the topic leaves many to grieve in isolation. Lori writes that, “By increasing awareness of the issue in the legal profession, we can better support our colleagues who face these devastating losses.”

Since lawyers are typically very ambitious people who “like to win,” facing pregnancy loss “can make a woman feel like a failure because she has literally come up empty.” Male colleagues facing this struggle with their partners also deal with their own grief and report feelings of hopelessness. Lori notes that being able to help these men and women through this difficult process by listening and providing them with some comfort and encouragement can be truly meaningful.

On this day of awareness, Lori urges the legal industry to do more for attorneys facing pregnancy loss and advocates for a workplace culture that is open to discussing this sensitive issue, along with the many other life challenges colleagues may be enduring. “As a community, we should aspire to ensure that no one feels pressured to suffer through pregnancy loss or any other mental health challenge in silence.”