When the pandemic struck early this year, initial data found that women disproportionally bore its emotional brunt, in part due to the disproportionate time spent on childcare.\u00a0 New data shows that the stress level of men has caught up with women.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impact of the pandemic on mental health is starting to even out across the gender gap,\u201d says Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. \u201cWhile men may have been less impacted environmentally over the last eight months, their passive approach to coping may be catching up with them as the pandemic endures.\u201d(1)<\/p>\n
\u201cTotal Brain CEO Louis Gagnon says that when it comes to dealing with stress, men tend to focus on fixing problems, as opposed to women who try to change their internal response to stressors. Although the problem-focused approach is often successful, it doesn\u2019t work when the source of the stress\u2014like the pandemic\u2014cannot\u00a0be eliminated.\u201d(1)<\/p>\n
With the infection rates climbing in recent weeks, the frustration at the inability to fix the problem can grow, increasing stress.<\/p>\n
Now is time for employers to renew their focus on employees\u2019 mental health:<\/p>\n