October Health – 2025 Report
Female Demographic in United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, leading causes of stress reported by women include:
- Work-related stress – High workload, lack of work-life balance, and job insecurity.
- Financial concerns – Rising costs of living and financial instability.
- Caring responsibilities – Balancing childcare, care for elderly parents, and other family obligations.
- Health-related issues – Both their own health and the health of loved ones.
- Social pressures – Expectations around appearance, success, and relationships.
Addressing these issues in workplace settings can involve promoting work-life balance, offering flexibility, and encouraging access to support resources such as workplace mental health programs like those provided by October.
How mental health affects the Female demographic differently
Stress Factors Potentially Affecting Females More
1. **Workplace Inequality**
- Gender pay gap and fewer promotions.
- Lack of representation in leadership roles.
2. **Work-Life Balance**
- Greater societal pressure to balance career and caregiving responsibilities.
- Higher expectations for emotional labour within family and household dynamics.
3. **Cultural and Social Expectations**
- Pressure to adhere to societal norms regarding appearance, behaviour, and roles.
- Higher scrutiny in professional settings.
4. **Health Stresses**
- Reproductive health challenges (e.g., menstrual cycles, menopause, pregnancy, postpartum stress).
- Underrepresentation in medical research leading to delayed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.
5. **Gender-Based Discrimination or Harassment**
- Experience of sexism or inappropriate behaviour in professional or personal environments.
- Increased vulnerability to harassment and safety concerns in public spaces.
6. **Emotional Labour**
- Greater expectations to manage emotions (their own and others’).
- Pressure from societal norms to suppress anger or assertiveness.
Suggestions for Mitigation
- Engage in **workplace mental health programmes** like those offered by October to create supportive environments.
- Promote equal opportunities and awareness against bias.
- Encourage regular group therapy or open discussions to share experiences and build resilience.
- Provide tailored resources for reproductive and mental health care.
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.