Mental Health Awareness Week: “To Achieve Our Goals and Perform Well, We Need Healthy Minds”

Hi Henry! Thanks for chatting with us – can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello, myGwork network. It's my pleasure to introduce myself as Henry De Sousa, champion of eBay's impact-driven efforts to make a difference around the world and establish eBay as one of the premier employers in Europe and around the globe.

Besides being the executive assistant to our European chief financial officer, I am also committed to developing the next generation of our workforce and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Among my responsibilities, I also co-lead our Swiss finance intern program, co-lead our Swiss Employee Forum, serve as Chief of Staff to our United in Pride president and lead the Swiss chapter, co-chair our Changemakers Switzerland group that promotes volunteering and giving, and co-lead our global Movember events to raise awareness about mental health.

This week is mental health awareness week and we’re focusing on how organizations can foster healthy attitudes to mental health and well-being. Why do you think it’s important to discuss mental health in the workplace?

Most of our lives are spent at work, and we all face difficulties that sometimes negatively affect our lives at work and beyond. To achieve our goals and perform well, we need healthy minds. Having a strong support system at work will ensure that we overcome any difficult moments we may come across.

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

Definitely! The lack of support some of us had in our educational systems around the globe has left a huge gap in our society that may sometimes be a handicap to many. Addressing this specific topic will help us create a safe space for everyone at work and enable us to give our best performances at work and move forward toward creating a more inclusive workspace for generations to come.

Henry with his colleagues at eBay’s 2019 Holiday party

What advice would you give to an LGBTQ+ professional who is struggling with their mental health?

Although it sounds cliché, I would advise them to look for support groups. Many workplaces already have dedicated employee assistance programs that have health professionals who can help. If your workplace doesn’t have such a system, look out for LGBTQ+ local help groups. Nobody will stand against you for trying to overcome the challenges of life.

What would you like to change in the workplace to make it easier to discuss mental health?

It’d be great to see other leaders actively involved in promoting mental health in their teams and creating a safe space for employees to be themselves and feel free to speak up when things go south.

What tips would you offer employers on how they can better support LGBTQ+ people and their mental health?

Invest in Employee assistance programs, and support the communities of inclusion at work and local LGBTQ+ groups. Help create awareness amongst the employees around mental health and LGBTQ+ topics, the use of pronouns, the language used in meetings and e-mails, etc. It may sound standard for many who already do it, but there are still many employers who haven’t actively started taking these steps.

Does an organization’s approach to mental health change the likelihood of you wanting to work there?

Absolutely. In this constantly changing world, people seek a safe and judgmental-free environment. If an employer prioritizes the mental well-being of their employees, they are more likely to attract new talent and retain their existing staff.

What role do you think an LGBTQ+ network can play in promoting discussions around mental health in the workplace?

We need active ambassadors everywhere to drive these conversations at all levels. Subjects that were once considered taboo must be discussed so that we can eliminate the stigmatization that still exists in society.

How important do you think work-life balance is when it comes to mental health?

"A healthy spirit in a healthy body", or in Latin "Mens sana in corpore sano", is a well-known motto that reflects this answer. If we are not at our best, we cannot perform our best at work and in life, and we may hurt people we care for not being well or being able to balance out the many challenges we face in life.

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

Have regular informal check-ins with employees. Conduct anonymous surveys, and ask leaders to look out for unhealthy signs within a person, or even their team if they are a people manager. Promote educational talks at work at appropriate times that will educate and guide the workforce to look out for early signs that might indicate that things aren’t as okay as they may have thought… And most importantly, provide their employees with a judgement-free environment where they’re encouraged to speak up, share thoughts, or even take time off to heal or seek help if they need to.

Do you think it’s still seen as “taboo” to discuss mental health in the workplace?

Luckily, at eBay we have a safe space where we can discuss and promote mental health. We launched a couple of years ago the Global eBay x Movember during November, and I am pleased to be involved, where we host talks and events that promote mental health. I encourage all organizations to do the same. Support a non-profit organization that promotes mental health and work together to tackle these topics. They’re knowledgeable, resourceful, and most of the time cost-free.

How do you think the workplace approach to mental health has changed over the last 10 years?

The constant need to do better whilst remaining attractive in the job market and retaining top talent, and the issues our world faces daily have provided us with the perfect environment for topics around mental health to be prioritized. Companies need a mentally healthy workforce to be able to progress and achieve their goals.

How do you think it will continue to change over the next 10 years?

Globalization has a huge impact on our day-to-day lives and those of all organizations. The world is going to keep evolving. We need role models in all companies to champion diversity, equity and inclusion whilst remaining mindful of educating and inspiring their workforce. This will help improve our society.