Tampa, FL — As recognizing the importance of mental health becomes a focus nationwide, a local Tampa law firm is going above and beyond to ensure the well-being of their team members. At Shumaker, when one of their attorneys unexpectedly lost his father, the firm's leadership encouraged him to take the journey of a lifetime—taking his father’s ashes to Mount Everest, so he could focus on healing.“Taking time to heal is the brave thing to do. We must end the stigma around mental health and recognize that emotional pain is just as serious as physical pain,” said Jaime Austrich, Vice Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee. “While the legal industry can have a reputation for being tough and competitive, at Shumaker, we’re focused on the big picture—supporting our team so they can be healthy and even more successful for years to come.”That's what Shumaker did when partner and business lawyer, Nicholas Horner, struggled to cope with the loss of his father—supporting his extended leave of absence to grieve through an incredible journey. Horner has dealt with many challenges throughout his legal career, but nothing could have prepared him for the out-of-order death of his father, Mike Horner. He’s sharing his story and hopes it will help others be more open about grief as Grief Awareness Day was on August 30.Nick’s Story

Nick at the Annapurna Circuit; image courtesy of Shumaker.[/caption]Grief is a complex and painful experience that is unique to each person, but nearly everyone goes through it.

• About 2.5 million people die in the United States annually, each leaving an average of five grieving people behind.

• Mental health in the legal profession: A 2023 survey shows 71% of lawyers said they had anxiety, a 5% increase from last year. 38% report depression, and the number of lawyers who said they had another mental health issue more than doubled to 31% from 2022. The American Bar Association offers mental health resources and support to legal professionals facing a mental health crisis.

• Grief Awareness Day was founded by Angie Cartwright in 2014 to address grief and how we deal with it to end the stigma.

ABOUT SHUMAKER[caption id="attachment_8222440" align="alignright" width="200"]Shumaker logo courtesy of Shumaker. Founded in 1925, the Shumaker team of more than 300 lawyers and advisors is a premier provider of legal and legislative solutions, focused on being a positive and impactful difference maker for our clients and in the communities we serve.