Joe Milowic's story of his battles with depression struck a chord with readers and helped bring the topic of lawyers' mental health out of the shadows this year.

Brava, for bringing the important issue of depression to the forefront with a poignant illustration through one lawyer's story: How Quinn Emanuel Partner Joe Milowic Plunged to the Depths of Depression but Inspired Other Lawyers to Believe in Themselves. The pressures that affect career performance and advancement in this high-tech age of 24/7–365 professional availability should concern everyone. I personally witnessed the escalation in a wide array of professional burn-outs over many years. “Back in the day”, as Chief Administrative Judge and a Judge of the State Court of Appeals, I also observed these situations from an institutional perspective.

For example, I accepted the invitation—nay, a then-urgent plea in the mid-1980s—to make myself and my judicial colleagues more aware of and helpful to the work of the state and city Lawyers Assistance Programs. By attending many meetings, my eyes and sensibilities were opened to the un-acknowledged need for wider visibility and more resources. Our late Chief Judge Judith Kaye heard the plea, too, and asked me to chair a task force to study and produce an action plan in 1999-2000. Some concrete helpful steps ensued.

Reading the Law Journal story made me realize that like so many good deeds, efforts fade or become subordinated to seemingly more pressing needs. Alcohol, drug and related problems like depression and professional burnout fall off the radar of acute and immediate attention because they are not flashy and media-attracting crises of the “breaking news” dimension. Sadly, though, they still lurk in the shadows, out of feelings of shame and fear of derailment of successful performance and career ambitions. Ironically, the plainly growing nature of the psychological and clinical challenges impedes ready acceptance of available help among many of the people who desperately need it.

This one graphic story ought to jump-start a renewed and broad education program, with a higher decibel of repeated notifications pointing to awareness and availability of help and resources to back it up. Perhaps, a series of stories should be published to highlight the plight and need, so the issues stay front and center. They might emerge either confidentially or by pseudonym or by named names for those with the courage and confidence to tell their stories.

I respectfully suggest a twin amendment to the 20-year old task force action plan:

Those in need must come to know that help is available to deal with their problems, without stigma, shame or derailment of careers. And those who take notice—as colleagues or mentors or supervisors exhibiting compassion—and care—must come to know and be professionally motivated and collegially nudged to offer a shoulder to lean on and a real helping hand.

Joseph Bellacosa is a retired Judge of the Court of Appeals.