October Health – 2025 Report
Female Demographic in Kenya
For females in Kenya, the leading causes of stress often overlap with socio-economic and cultural factors. These include:
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Prevalence of domestic violence and harassment significantly impacts mental well-being.
- Economic Instability: Women are often more economically marginalized, with limited access to stable jobs or fair wages.
- Cultural Roles and Expectations: Traditional societal pressures around marriage, family care, and gender-specific responsibilities cause stress.
- Access to Education and Opportunities: Disparities in education and employment opportunities contribute to stress and limited upward mobility.
- Healthcare Challenges: Restricted access to quality reproductive and mental health care services adds to stress, especially in rural areas.
Addressing these issues would require gender-sensitive policies, accessible mental health support like October's digital group sessions, and community education to shift cultural norms.
How mental health affects the Female demographic differently
Stresses Affecting Women More Than Other Genders
1. **Workplace Inequality**
- Gender wage gap.
- Limited career advancement opportunities (glass ceiling).
- Workplace harassment or discrimination.
2. **Emotional Labor**
- Societal expectations to manage relationships, household tasks, and caregiving responsibilities.
- Balancing professional and domestic roles.
3. **Health and Body Image Stress**
- Pressure to meet societal beauty standards.
- Higher prevalence of body image and eating-related disorders.
- Hormonal changes and reproductive health concerns, such as menstruation, childbirth, and menopause.
4. **Safety Concerns**
- Greater vulnerability to sexual harassment, assault, and domestic violence.
- Emotional stress from constantly navigating concerns for personal safety.
5. **Cultural/Societal Expectations**
- Pressure to fulfill traditional roles (e.g., as mothers or caregivers).
- Challenges in balancing independence with societal gender norms.
6. **Mental Health Vulnerabilities**
- Higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to other genders.
- Limited access or stigma surrounding seeking mental health support.
**Recommendation**: Employers in Kenya could promote workplace equality and support employees by providing access to mental health resources, including programs like October’s digital group sessions and assessments, to address these gender-specific 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.