October Health – 2025 Report
Female Demographic in Canada
For the female population in Canada, common leading causes of stress include:
- Work-related stress: Balancing job responsibilities, wage gaps, and lack of workplace support for caregiving roles.
- Family responsibilities: Managing childcare, eldercare, and household activities while maintaining other roles.
- Financial stress: Unequal access to opportunities and pay inequality, contributing to financial strain.
- Health-related concerns: Physical and mental health issues, including higher demands for caregiving roles that impact well-being.
- Discrimination or societal pressures: Gender-based discrimination, societal expectations, and pressures around appearance or "having it all."
Employers in Canada can mitigate these stressors by fostering supportive work environments, offering flexible work arrangements, and encouraging access to mental health resources like October's services.
How mental health affects the Female demographic differently
Stressors Potentially Affecting Females More Commonly
1. **Workplace Gender Inequality**:
- Unequal pay, limited promotions, or lack of representation in leadership roles can result in stress and feelings of undervaluation.
- Gender biases or microaggressions in professional environments.
2. **Work-Life Balance Pressure**:
- Societal expectations to manage both career and caregiving responsibilities (e.g., parenting or elder care) can create significant strain.
3. **Emotional Labour**:
- Disproportionate expectations to manage emotions in relationships and smooth social interactions, both at work and home.
4. **Health and Wellbeing-Related Stress**:
- Hormonal changes (e.g., menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause) can exacerbate stress levels.
- Higher risks of anxiety, depression, or PTSD, potentially due to both biological and societal factors.
5. **Safety and Harassment**:
- Concerns about physical and emotional safety, including workplace harassment or experiences of gender-based violence, can contribute to heightened stress.
6. **Pressure to Meet Beauty Standards**:
- Societal emphasis on appearance can lead to stress, body image issues, or self-esteem struggles.
Workplace Suggestions
- Promote gender equality by implementing fair policies for pay, promotions, and representation.
- Offer flexible work options to alleviate work-life balance challenges.
- Support mental health through resources like **Panda's services**, including digital group sessions on stress management.
Data from October Health
What's driving mental health stresses for the Female demographic in South African?
Proactive mental fitness for high performance staff.
Understand the stresses and workplace challenges of your staff and provide them with the tools to protect their productivity and mental health.