Mental Health Awareness Month: Why We Must Prioritize LGBTQ+ Mental Health
Interviews
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I received my Bachelor of Science degree in
Applied Networking and Systems Administration from The Rochester Institute of
Technology. I've been with Hitachi Vantara (previously, Hitachi Data Systems)
since before graduating. In the summer of 2014, I was a DevOps Engineering Intern
working out of the Waltham office. After I returned to RIT to finish my
studies, Hitachi kept in touch and was interested in hiring me as a permanent
member of the team – which I was very excited about.
In addition to being a DevSecOps engineer,
I am also the Americas Lead for Hitachi Vantara's LGBTQ+ Employee Resource
Group, Rainbow Connection. My goal is to promote positivity and diversity in
whatever way I can.
This month marks mental health awareness month - why do you think it's important we shine a light on LGBTQ+ mental health?
It is important to recognize and address
LGBTQ+ issues and prioritize mental health in the workplace. Historically,
individuals within the LGBTQ+ community may not have felt comfortable sharing
their true identities due to safety concerns. However, there is now a notable
increase in young people identifying as LGBTQ+ compared to previous
generations. It is crucial to continue creating a supportive environment where
individuals can bring their authentic selves to work. It is important to
acknowledge that the LGBTQ+ community has always existed, but societal factors
may have inhibited individuals from expressing their true identities.
Similarly, mental health is often stigmatized or simply overlooked due to a lack of awareness, which can discourage individuals from speaking out and seeking help due to the fear of being judged or pitied. Mental health issues are even more prevalent within the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals may feel compelled to live in fear or take their own lives due to depression. This depression could be because of familial history or an inability to express their true selves, or due to hate experienced from bullies or even family members. It is essential to create an environment of openness and acceptance where individuals can feel comfortable expressing themselves and supporting one another. No one should ever have to feel alone. Initiating a conversation could be the first step in creating a support network among colleagues, friends, and family members.
"If an organization does not approach mental health with kindness and understanding, then I do not wish to be a part of it."
Does an organization’s approach to mental
health change the likelihood of you wanting to work there?
Absolutely! If an organization does not
approach mental health with kindness and understanding, then I do not wish to
be a part of it. I would simply prioritize opportunities that focus on mental
health and would decline offers from organizations that don’t.
In any organization, burnout will happen.
People may struggle with work-life balance and work stress. However,
organizations must provide resources to assist them with navigating their
mental health issues and achieving work-life balance.
If someone is feeling depressed, the organization can offer benefits such as free counselling services, or access to mental health first-aider. If someone is grieving the loss of a loved one or pet, ready assistance for managing their workload should be provided or help them with access to safe and confidential platform for talking about their concerns. For addressing burnout, organizations can educate managers in understanding and learning ways of supporting them, providing adequate breaks, and exploring ways of balancing workload across the team.
Tyler (right) opens up about his experience with depression and anxiety
What role do you think an LGBTQ+ network
can play in promoting discussions around mental health in the workplace?
Historically, LGBTQ+ individuals have been
acknowledged for their contribution in community building and playing crucial
roles in society. Today, LGBTQ+ individuals view the world differently than
cisgender and heterosexual people. While growing up, we experience fear and
struggle and adapt to survive. But along the way, we learn about the struggles
of our fellow community members and learn kindness and understanding from each
other.
An LGBTQ+ network can facilitate discussions around mental health in the workplace by sharing personal experiences. This can foster an environment of openness where everyone, including employees who do not identify as LGBTQ+, can ask questions and express themselves. Additionally, an employee may have a relative that identifies as LGBTQ+, such as a child, and having a coworker to confide in could be beneficial for their family.
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How important do you think work-life
balance is when it comes to mental health?
Achieving a good work-life balance is
critical for our mental health. A lack of mental wellness can impact our quality
of work as well as the quality of life that we are striving for. It is
essential to acknowledge that our careers should not dictate our lives, and we must
prioritize our holistic well-being before anything else.
The best way to achieve this balance is by
taking time off when needed, regardless of deadlines, meetings, or product
launches. It is important to meet regularly with your manager to discuss taking
time off and preventing frequent burnout.
What does taking care of your mental health
look like for you?
I struggle with anxiety and depression,
both of which are exacerbated by stress. To manage my mental health, I prefer
to work at my own pace and take regular breaks.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more
feasible to work from home. I prioritize getting enough sleep and taking breaks
to cuddle with my cats, run errands or do household chores. However, I ensure to
complete my work tasks within the deadline and in fact, I have noticed that I
produce higher quality work when I am in a better mental state. Working according
to my schedule has been immensely helpful for my mental health.
In addition to this, I stay in touch with my support network of friends and family. And my team at work has also become like a second family to me. They keep track of my well-being and are very supportive. If I ever need a break, they are understanding and supportive.
"For too long, employees have been told to keep their personal lives separate from work, but that approach isn’t effective or healthy for many of us."
What does Hitachi Vantara do to support mental health in the workplace?
At Hitachi Vantara, we prioritize the
health of our employees by providing great benefits. Recently, we added ‘Included
Health’ as a benefit for our United States employees. This benefit provides
access to healthcare professionals who can provide affirming care and a safe
space to any patient, not just those from the LGBTQ+ community. We offer many
benefits to ensure our employees can access care safely and comfortably.
Additionally, Hitachi Vantara hosts regular
sessions on various mental health topics. All employees attend these sessions to
learn about supporting each other and ensuring a safe space for addressing
mental health concerns. People managers also regularly connect with their direct
reports to check in and help, whenever needed. We encourage team members to
share anything that's going on in their lives if they want to.
It's important to talk about mental health
openly. If the leaders don’t discuss their own mental health, employees won't
feel comfortable doing so either.
Let me share a personal example to
illustrate this. Anxiety has significantly impacted my life in the past, and I
have relied on medication to manage it. Even with medication, I still struggle
at times. However, last fall, I was given the opportunity to travel to the Out
& Equal conference in Las Vegas. I was excited but also anxious. I shared
my concerns with a colleague who I was traveling with, and they provided the
support I needed without judgement. Sometimes, I needed to leave a session due
to my anxiety, but that was okay. During travel, I would get stressed and reach
out to them for reassurance that everything would be okay. Without their
support, attending the week-long conference would have been difficult for me.
In conclusion, I encourage everyone to support
one another. Everyone faces challenges, and everyone needs someone to help them
or lean on them. For too long, employees have been told to keep their personal lives
separate from work, but that approach isn’t effective or healthy for many of us.
