October Health – 2025 Report
Female Demographic in Canada
According to data up to 2023, the leading causes of stress among females in Canada often include:
- Work-related stress: This includes job demands, work-life balance challenges, and inequality in the workplace.
- Financial pressures: Managing expenses, debt, and financial security is a common stressor.
- Caregiving responsibilities: Many women experience stress due to caregiving for children, elderly family members, or both (the "sandwich generation").
- Health concerns: Personal health, reproductive health, and concerns about family members' well-being contribute to stress.
- Social pressures: Societal expectations, gender roles, and disproportionate mental load in households often add to stress levels.
For workplace mental health support, employers might consider resources like October to provide group sessions, education, and assessments tailored to address these stress factors.
How mental health affects the Female demographic differently
Here are some stresses that may disproportionately affect females compared to other genders:
1. **Workplace Inequality**
- Gender wage gap and glass ceiling.
- Challenges in being considered for leadership roles.
- Microaggressions and gender stereotyping.
2. **Work-Life Balance Pressures**
- Societal and cultural expectations to manage family and caregiving responsibilities.
- Higher likelihood of being the primary caregiver for children or elderly parents while working.
3. **Discrimination and Harassment**
- Increased exposure to workplace sexual harassment.
- Gender-based discrimination in professional settings and beyond.
4. **Mental Health Stigma**
- Societal stigmas around emotional expression, which may sometimes undermine valid mental health concerns.
- Pressure to embody certain societal roles (e.g., nurturing, “perfect mother”).
5. **Reproductive Health Stress**
- Stress from managing menstruation, fertility issues, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause, which are often overlooked by workplaces.
- Physical health impacting mental well-being during these stages.
6. **Intersectionality**
- Compounded stressors for female individuals who also face challenges related to intersecting identities (e.g., race, disability, or LGBTQ+ identity).
Suggestions for Support:
- Employers can provide inclusive policies and mental health support, like **Panda's digital mental health services** to create safe spaces for open discussion.
- Flexible work arrangements and training on workplace equity can alleviate some of these stresses.
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.