Halifax, NS (October 9, 2025) — More than 27,000 women across the Maritimes have spoken in what is the largest-ever open survey focused on women’s health in the region. The Voice of Maritime Women – The Unspoken Burden of Women’s Health provides an unprecedented look into women’s health journeys in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The overwhelming response reaffirms the urgent need to better understand and address the realities women face in managing their health.
The findings, released today by the IWK Foundation, reveal a powerful collective voice. Women described health journeys marked by strength, frustration, systemic barriers, and a deep desire for change. While challenges like wait times and access to care are well-known, the survey shines a light on broader structural, social, and emotional burdens shaping women’s lives.
“This is not just data, it’s the lived realities of more than 27,000 Maritime women,” said Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO of the IWK Foundation. “We titled the report The Voice of Maritime Women — The Unspoken Burden of Women’s Health. These burdens can no longer remain unspoken. They are loud, clear, and long overdue for action.”
While 86 per cent agree significant changes are needed to improve women's health, the most common health concerns were not acute illnesses but chronic and often invisible issues like stress, anxiety, sleep disruption, hormonal imbalances, and the physical and emotional toll of caregiving. The survey makes clear that women’s health is shaped by more than clinical symptoms. Social pressures, caregiving roles, financial strain, and knowledge gaps all converge to create invisible barriers to wellness.
Key Findings:
- A staggering three out of four women (75%) admitted they have delayed or avoided seeking healthcare because they have too many responsibilities, are worried about not being heard by their doctor, and downplaying their health concerns.
- Only one-third of women (34%) report they are doing OK.
- Nearly one in five respondents (21%) described themselves as being in crisis.
- Nearly half of all participants (48%) do not feel informed about the next stage of their health journey.
The findings reveal 56 per cent of women report health issues that actively disrupt their day-to-day life:
- 66% have sleep quality impacts
- 51% report self-esteem or self-worth impacts
- 65% report mood and emotional wellbeing impacts
- 81% say their health affects home life:
- 70% have difficulty concentrating or focusing
- 46% report overall family impacts
- 67% avoid social interaction
- 70% say their work-life is impacted:
- 64% report decreased productivity at work
- 64% avoid social interactions at work
- 49% have reported missing work
Top issues women want prioritized:
- Menopause (48%), Hormonal Health (42%), and Perimenopause (38%)
- Stress (47%), Anxiety (44%), Depression (42%)
- Obesity/weight management (42%)
- Sleep disorders (33%)
- Heart disease (31%)
- Cancer (29%)
The report highlights that improving women’s health will require collection action from government, healthcare, workplaces, communities and individuals.
“This is a roadmap,” added Gillivan. “Women aren’t asking for more resilience, they’re already showing that every day. They are not just asking for better care, they are demanding a new approach, one that values their experiences, prioritizes preventive care, embraces gender-informed research and education, and invests in specialized services across every life stage. Our responsibility now is to act.”
This initiative is a foundational part of the IWK Foundation’s broader effort to help close the gender health gap and ensure women’s health is treated as a research, care, and policy priority across the region.
The survey was conducted between July 2–31, 2025, and was open to all women across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. It was accessible in both English and French, with options such as larger fonts and email responses to ensure participation. In total, 27,317 valid responses were analyzed.
ABOUT THE IWK FOUNDATION
The IWK Foundation is a champion of excellence in women and children’s healthcare and research and mental health and addictions for children and youth. The IWK Foundation is the primary fundraising organization for IWK Health, working in partnership with IWK Health and others to support the vision of providing quality care to women, children, youth and families in our community. The IWK Foundation is a national co-owner and partner of Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations and a member of the national Women’s Health Collective Canada.
Visit www.iwkfoundation.org for more information.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Slysz
IWK Foundation
nicole.slysz@iwkfoundation.org
(902) 220-6748