October Health – 2025 Report

Male Demographic in Canada

For males in Canada, work-related stress is reported as the leading cause of stress for the population. This can include long working hours, job insecurity, high performance expectations, and lack of work-life balance. Financial stress and societal expectations around masculinity and providing for the family are also significant contributors.

For workplaces aiming to address these stressors, encouraging mental health support through services like October’s digital resources or stress management workshops may help.

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How mental health affects the Male demographic differently

Stresses That May Affect Men More Than Other Genders

  1. Workplace Pressure and Provider Expectations

    • Societal norms often expect men to be the primary earners, leading to stress around job performance, achieving career success, and financial stability.

  2. Emotional Suppression

    • Many men face pressure to appear "strong" and avoid expressing vulnerability, which can increase stress and lead to emotional isolation or repressed feelings.

  3. Societal Pressure of Masculinity

    • Adhering to traditional ideas of masculinity can result in stress related to physical appearance, behaviors, or meeting unrealistic societal expectations.

  4. Mental Health Stigma

    • Men are less likely to seek mental health support due to stigma, which can exacerbate untreated stress, anxiety, or depression.

  5. Relationship Challenges

    • Communication and emotional expression challenges may contribute to stress within romantic relationships or while navigating fatherhood.

  6. Health Concerns

    • There is often less focus on preventive healthcare for men, leading to stress over health issues that could have been addressed earlier.

  7. Loneliness

    • Men typically have fewer close social support networks as they age, which can increase isolation and stress.

Recommendation: Encourage men in the workplace to attend mental health programs like October's group sessions, where barriers to discussing emotions and stress may be lower. Providing safe spaces to talk can alleviate this gender-specific stress.

Data from October Health

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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.

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