October Health – 2026 Report
Male Demographic in United States
The leading cause of stress reported by men in the United States is work-related stress. This includes job demands, workload, time pressure, job insecurity, and balancing work with family responsibilities.
How mental health affects the Male demographic differently
- Workplace expectations and pressure to conform to traditional masculine norms (stoicism, emotional restraint) can increase stress when dealing with mental health, seeking help, or expressing vulnerability.
- Job insecurity and performance monitoring may heighten stress due to stigma around showing weakness or needing support.
- Masculine role in provider or protector can create stress when faced with financial instability, layoffs, or caregiving responsibilities conflicting with work duties.
- Social isolation from expressing emotions or seeking peer support at work can lead to higher stress and burnout.
- Coping style expectations (turning to alcohol or avoidance) can worsen stress and create downstream problems at work and home.
- Occupational stereotypes (e.g., higher representation in high-demand, high-responsibility roles) can amplify stress from expectations to always be competent and successful.
- Exposure to aggressive leadership cultures or hazardous work environments may intensify stress related to maintaining composure and performance.
- Health and safety pressures (e.g., stigmatized concerns about health symptoms) may deter seeking medical or mental health care.
- Grief, loss, or bereavement might be harder to process if there’s limited spaces in the workplace for male employees to discuss vulnerability.
- Telework fatigue can compound stress for those who feel the need to appear always “on” or available, aligning with masculine norms of productivity.
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.