October Health – 2025 Report

Male Demographic in Kenya

In Kenya, the leading causes of stress among men typically include:

  1. Financial Pressure: Struggles with unemployment, low wages, or providing for families.
  2. Societal Expectations: Pressure to fulfill traditional gender roles as providers or protectors.
  3. Workplace Stress: Job instability, long hours, or poor working conditions.
  4. Lack of Mental Health Awareness: Stigma around addressing emotions and seeking help.

Encouraging open discussions about mental health in the workplace can help mitigate these stressors. Services like October's digital group sessions and assessments can provide valuable support in such environments.

← back to the Report

How mental health affects the Male demographic differently

Stresses That May Affect Males More Than Other Genders

  1. Societal Pressure to Provide

    • Traditional gender roles often expect men to be primary breadwinners, creating financial and occupational stress.

  2. Emotional Suppression

    • Cultural norms sometimes discourage men from expressing vulnerability or seeking help, potentially leading to internalized stress.

  3. Workplace Stress

    • High expectations to succeed in leadership roles or demanding jobs contribute to burnout and performance anxiety.

  4. Loneliness and Social Isolation

    • Men may struggle to form close emotional connections due to societal stigmas around male friendships and emotional openness.

  5. Health-related Stigma

    • Men are less likely to seek medical or psychological help, leading to untreated physical and mental health issues.

Suggestions for Coping

  • Encourage workplace culture that normalizes emotional openness and seeking support.
  • Promote tools like Panda's group sessions and content to educate on managing stress and emotional well-being.
  • Advocate for work-life balance and openly challenge harmful masculine stereotypes.

Data from October Health

What's driving mental health stresses for the Male 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.

October for Businesses