Faye Green on Mental Health: “You Wouldn’t Get an Athlete to Compete With a Broken Leg but Why Do We Expect People to Do So if We Can’t See an Illness?”

"Showing up and doing a role if you are struggling is such a challenge – you wouldn’t get an athlete to compete with a broken leg but why do we expect people to do so if we can’t see an illness?" Mental Health Awareness Week is important to Faye Green, Talent Acquisition EMEA at eBay, for a myriad of reasons, she particularly sees the crucial role the workplace can play in driving change and supporting employees who may be struggling, as well as the need to highlight unique challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces, and myGwork sat down to chat to her about exactly this.

Faye Green shares her thoughts on mental health awareness week

Hi Faye, tell us a little about yourself?

I have had the pleasure of being part of the eBay team for five years working in Talent Acquisition across our European markets plus having the privilege of co-chairing our employee group, titled WeMind, which focuses on mental health and work closely with our other employee groups, including our incredible UnitedInPride team.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week - why do you think it’s important to discuss mental health in the workplace?

It is frustrating that we are still asking why it is important! Showing up and doing a role if you are struggling is such a challenge – you wouldn’t get an athlete to compete with a broken leg but why do we expect people to do so if we can’t see an illness?

Driving a culture where you can share what you are facing into and having the support to take care of yourself is so important. Support comes in different forms at work – you manager, work friends or benefits such as EAP and healthcare.

The workplace can also be a trigger for poor mental health, so open conversations are crucial to retain employees plus looking at what is an offer to employees as it is important that it isn’t a tick box exercise. Education for managers is also key.

"As an ally to the community and listening to experiences of discrimination to having to face disturbing news headlines with attacks on the community continuing to increase, it is essential that our LGBTQ+ community are supported."

Do you think it is important to talk specifically about LGBTQ+ mental health? 

This is incredibly important – as an ally to the community and listening to experiences of discrimination to having to face disturbing news headlines with attacks on the community continuing to increase, it is essential that our LGBTQ+ community are supported.

How do you think the workplace approach to mental health has changed over the last 10 years? How do you think it will continue to change over the next 10 years?

Covid acted as a catalyst for this – suddenly the discussions that managers were having shifted as their teams were suffering from burnout, anxiety and grief.  Previously, employees may have tried to keep their work-self and personal-self separate, but lockdown opened up our homes and companies had to take action.

However, workplaces still have a way to go, and often when businesses are faced with financial challenges, DEI is often an area that sees cuts plus increased workload when roles aren’t being replaced. It is important this focus on mental health continues and that we treat it the same as our physical health.

"Everyone is still on this journey but the more we talk and drive awareness, the more we can drive change."

What can employers do to ensure their staff have a healthy work-life balance?

This is something everyone struggles with – especially if you work across different time zones plus with all the different communication platforms, you can always feel plugged in!

Firstly, leading by example is important. If you are sending emails over a weekend or on holiday, it sends out the wrong message.

Creating psychological safety is important so you can listen to your employees and understand what you can do to help drive a work life balance and a healthy culture. We have run workshops on everything from setting boundaries to 121s with a sleep expert to help to drive good mental health and when we are facing into some of our busiest trading periods, we ensure that our teammates are even more supported.

Everyone is still on this journey but the more we talk and drive awareness, the more we can drive change.