Survey: L.A. Area is Stressed Out

Forty-three percent of residents of Los Angeles, where stress remains higher than considered healthy, have said their stress level has increased in the past five years, the American Psychological Association reported Wednesday.

The same percentage of L.A.-based adults said that stress has a very strong or strong impact on their mental health, larger than 35 percent nationally.

Why are Angelenos so stressed? The association, which surveyed U.S. adults online, said money (74 percent), work (73 percent), and the economy (64 percent) top the list of stress triggers.

Similarly, a last year found that 46 percent of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach residents felt stressed for most of the day.

"It's important people pay attention to signs of stress, because stress can affect your physical and emotional health, especially if not managed properly," said Dr. Michael Ritz, a Los Angeles-area psychologist who serves as the public education coordinator for the California Psychological Association.

The three-year Vitality City project will host its first at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Jan. 31 as an effort to help residents overcome stress.

During the workshop, which costs $10 per person, Richard Leider, author of Repacking Your Bags, and Barbara Hoese will speak to participants as they explore life goals.

Vitality City, which is part of Healthway and Blue Zones, an organization that seeks to increase longevity by improving lifestyles, is partnering with the Beach Cities Health District on its health-improvement initiative in the area.

— City News Service contributed to this report.