From Taboo to Trendsetter: Women's Health in the Spotlight
Just a few years ago, Sun Life took a bold first step in changing the narrative by speaking up about previously taboo topics surrounding women’s health in the workplace. We’re committed to moving the needle on women’s health and continuing to dive into the real topics impacting Canadians.
Focus on Women’s Health report
Sun Life’s Focus on Women’s Health report, the latest report in our Designed for Health series, reveals that women are facing unique and increasingly complex health challenges earlier in life and explores the impact and solutions for workplaces.
The report analyzes health claims data from over 3 million plan members and 20,000 employers, revealing urgent and emerging trends in women’s health across Canada:
Cancer rates among women under 50 are now twice as high as men in the same age group.
Migraine drug claims are 4-5 times higher for women than for men.
Women’s claims for diabetes drugs are growing 40 percent faster than men’s.
Additionally, issues such as mental health, menopause, caregiving, and extreme weather events still affect women disproportionately, with these trends intensifying and occurring at earlier ages. Mental health continues to play a critical role and is integrated across many of women’s unique health challenges. Women also continue to bear a bigger burden when it comes to mental health disorders, with 45 percent of women's disability claims related to mental health compared to 33 percent for men.
Marie-Chantal Côté
“These findings remind us that behind every statistic are real women navigating demanding lives and complex health needs. By raising awareness and making small but meaningful changes, workplaces can be powerful allies and make a real difference – helping women thrive through every stage of their health journey.”