Dec. 29, 2008

USA Today

Top Health Stories of ‘08: Hard Times Crank Up Stress

As the economy plummeted this year, stress soared and so did the number of Americans bringing their money-related mental health problems to therapists.

Requests for counseling increased 40 percent in the last six months of 2008, according to Richard Chaifetz, CEO of ComPsych, the largest employee assistance provider. Financial worries caused most of the upswing in calls for help, he says.

Experts on mental health also report rising anxiety and depression about layoffs, college expenses and vanishing retirement accounts.