Job Stress? Join the Club

Mental health fallout worse than 9/11

The economic recession is taking a serious toll on America's mental health.  

With so many jobs lost or on the line, calls to mental health workers at the nation's largest employee-assistance company went up 40% in the last half of 2008. 

And a survey last fall by the American Psychological Association found that one-in-three Americans who are worried about their economic condition said their stress had reached an "extreme" level.

"I've never seen this level of anxiety and depression in 22 years of practice," says Chicago area psychologist Nancy Molitor.  "The mental health fallout has been far worse than after 9/11." 

Family arguments, even spousal abuse, are also on the increase.

There's more about the economy and mental stress in today's U.S. Today newspaper.

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