October Health – 2025 Report

Male Demographic in United Kingdom

The leading cause of stress among men in the United Kingdom, on a population level, is typically work-related stress. This includes factors such as high workloads, long hours, job insecurity, and financial pressure. Other common causes contributing to stress for men include housing concerns, family responsibilities, and societal expectations around masculinity and performance.

If workplace stress is a common challenge in your organisation, tools like October could offer support through digital group sessions or resources tailored to employees’ mental health needs.

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How mental health affects the Male demographic differently

Stresses That May Affect Men More Than Other Genders

  1. Societal Expectations and Gender Roles

    • Pressure to be the "provider" or "breadwinner."
    • Expectation to suppress emotions, leading to stigma around seeking help.
    • Traditional masculinity ideals that discourage vulnerability.

  2. Mental Health Stigma

    • Higher stigma around men seeking therapy or admitting to struggles.
    • Fear of being perceived as weak or inadequate in addressing emotional needs.

  3. Workplace Pressure

    • Competition and pressure to succeed in male-dominated industries.
    • Fear of career repercussions when discussing mental health challenges.

  4. Relationship Pressures

    • Stress from societal expectations to initiate or lead in romantic and familial decisions.
    • Pressure to maintain a stoic facade in personal relationships.

  5. Loneliness and Isolation

    • Tendency for many men to have fewer close friendships, leading to less emotional support.
    • Increased risk of social isolation as they age.

  6. Fatherhood Stress

    • Pressure to balance work and parenting.
    • Lesser social and workplace support for fathers as caregivers compared to mothers.

  7. Physical Health Concerns

    • Higher likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours (e.g., smoking, heavy drinking) leading to chronic illnesses.
    • Reluctance to seek medical help for physical or mental issues.

Workplace Solutions

  • Encourage open discussions to challenge stigma around emotions and mental health.
  • Provide male-focused mental health resources, like digital sessions with October, for creating a supportive environment.
  • Foster team cultures that value collaboration over competition, reducing unhealthy workplace pressures.

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.

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