Study: More kids stressed out at young ages

Increased pressure to achieve academically has today's youth experiencing depression at earlier ages than their predecessors, says a study by the Francisan Skemp Behavioral Health Clinic.

Experts say that they have seen an increase in elementary, middle and high school students with emotional conditions such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior and depression. Kids between the ages of 5 and 8 are often deprived of sleep and exhibit low self-esteem, which could put them at a higher risk for eating disorders and self-harm habits as adolescents, even if they are high achievers, researchers say.

The study shows that some parents enroll their children in too many after-school activities, which leads to even more stress for kids. Researchers found that adults who overbook activities for their child continue to do so during their kids' high school and college years. However, programs for troubled youth can give those who suffer from emotional conditions the right amount of activities to challenge them, while decreasing their stress levels.

Experts from the University of Wisconsin say that many mothers and fathers feel the need to keep up with what other parents are doing. Furthermore, experts say they see more burned-out and stressed out people under the age of 20 as a result of parents pushing their kids too hard.

According to a 2007 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2 million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 said that they have experienced a major depressive episode. However, only 40 percent of these individuals received treatment for depression.