October Health – 2025 Report

Anxiety in Namibia

- Leading cause: Unemployment and economic hardship (poverty and income inequality) are the primary population-level drivers of anxiety and stress in Namibia. - Also significant: Climate shocks such as drought and resulting food insecurity amplify stress. - Workplace implications: Support staff with stable wages and reasonable workloads, offer confidential mental health resources (e.g., October’s digital group sessions and assessments) and an Employee Assistance Program to help manage financial and climate-related stress.

Anxiety Prevalence
38.04%
Affected people
20,922,000

Impact on the people of Namibia

  • Physical health effects:

    • Sleep disturbances (insomnia or disrupted sleep) leading to daytime fatigue
    • Muscle tension, headaches, and digestive issues (e.g., stomach upset, changes in appetite)
  • Mental health effects:

    • Persistent worry, irritability, and difficulty concentrating
    • Heightened anxiety responses or panic-like symptoms in stressful moments
  • Social and work-life effects:

    • Strained relationships at home or with colleagues due to irritability or withdrawal
    • Reduced productivity, more mistakes, or increased absenteeism/presenteeism
  • Coping and resources:

    • Practice grounding and deep breathing, maintain consistent sleep and physical activity
    • Seek support from trusted people; consider workplace resources or digital options like October for group sessions, assessments, and content (where appropriate)
  • Urgent help:

    • Seek immediate help if you have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or thoughts of harming yourself.

Impact on the Namibia Economy

  • Reduced productivity and burnout due to chronic anxiety among workers (Namibia's mining and tourism sectors may be especially affected).
  • Increased absenteeism and presenteeism, raising costs and reducing output.
  • Higher healthcare costs and greater strain on public health resources.
  • Lower consumer spending and slower investment and growth due to uncertainty.
  • Labor market churn and skill shortages that hinder entrepreneurship and long-term development; mitigation: investing in workplace mental health programs (e.g., October digital group sessions and assessments) can help.

What can government do to assist?

  • Integrate mental health into primary care and expand access

    • Train non-specialist health workers (task-shifting), deploy mobile clinics for rural areas, and offer telemedicine options to reduce barriers in Namibia.
  • Strengthen workplace mental health policies

    • Require employee assistance programs, regular stress risk assessments, flexible work arrangements, and dedicated mental health leave; train managers to respond empathetically.
  • Elevate mental health literacy and reduce stigma

    • Run nationwide campaigns, embed mental health education in schools, and involve community/traditional leaders; provide materials in local languages and use relatable messaging.
  • Address social determinants and crisis response

    • Expand social protection, housing, water/food security, and unemployment support; establish 24/7 crisis hotlines and rapid response teams for disasters (droughts, floods) common in Namibia.
  • Data-driven governance and digital tools

    • Implement a national mental health strategy with measurable indicators and funding; monitor outcomes and privacy. Consider digital platforms like October for scalable group sessions, assessments, and psychoeducation, ensuring cultural relevance and accessibility.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

How companies can lower anxiety and stress in the workplace (Namibia)

  • Leadership and culture: publicly commit to mental health, train managers in supportive conversations, and ensure confidentiality to reduce stigma.

  • Workload management and boundaries: align roles with realistic deadlines, limit after-hours messaging, and mandate regular breaks or flexible hours where feasible.

  • Access to support: provide confidential Employee Assistance Programs or counselling, with remote options for rural staff; offer resources in relevant local languages.

  • Skills and routines: deliver short trainings on breathing, grounding, and cognitive reframing; promote 5-minute micro-breaks, sleep hygiene, hydration, and gentle physical activity.

  • Environment and policies: provide quiet or rest spaces, ensure comfortable climate control, and adopt flexible work arrangements to prevent burnout.

  • Digital tools and monitoring: use regular wellbeing check-ins; consider October for scalable digital group sessions, quick assessments, and psychoeducation, while ensuring privacy and offline options where connectivity is limited.