According to a new study by the MMPI there are more than five times as many high school age students suffering from anxiety and depression than in the Great Depression Era. At least one in every three students suffers from anxiety and depression. A main reason behind the depression and anxiety is the stress from school and bullying.

School is an extreme stressor for most students with the pressure to be better than they already are.

The pressure to get better grades.

The pressure to join more clubs.

The pressure to have a prominent grade point average.

The pressure to make everyone proud.

The list goes on and on. Most adults think high school and college age students are only pressured into drugs, alcohol and sex. This is mostly true. Then again, for the most part, those that are driven have the pressure to be better at school and life. Therefore they have a lot anxiety and stress within their lives, add on to this, that students are then bullied at school.

October is national bully awareness month and it is time that society stands up against bullying. One out of every four students has or will be bullied in his or her younger academic lives by either a friend, an enemy or even a teacher or coach. There is much more to bullying than just face to face bullying these days; now teens can bully through text or online. Most teens will advise their peers “oh just walk away from the phone/computer” but it is not quite that easy for those who are swimming in an ocean of bullying. That is why it has to stop. It cannot happen anymore. Rebecca Ann Sedwick of Florida killed herself last month because she was bullied by as many as 15 other girls. Bullying is not something to take lightly.

Teens go through ups and downs, and two of those downs is depression and anxiety. It is not an easy road to travel upon especially with the negativity, but there are always people there to help and to provide comfort.

If you are in need of help, call these numbers:

National Suicide Hotline

800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

800-442-HOPE (4673)

Bullying hotline

1-800-420-1479

Depression Support

800-273-TALK (8255)