Recent studies show people across the country are more stressed than ever before. But researchers hope a new program in Grand Island will help decrease those anxiety levels.

It's called the Wonderful Life project.

"We have one over-arching goal, and that is essentially to improve the lives of everyone in Grand Island," program director Lee Elliott says.

Elliott developed the year-long program, which includes group training and one-on-one sessions, after completing scientific research indicating increased levels of stress and depression.

"73% of our population today is saying they're stressed to the max, they can't take more," Elliott says.

Elliott says those higher stress levels are often attributed to money and financial problems, as well as increased pressure to succeed in the workplace.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Krista Fritson, one of the psychologists assisting with the Wonderful Life program, says the pressure for success and expectations in the workplace are phenomenal.

"Trainings are going to look at conflict resolution, effective communication, how to manage bullies, manage difficult people in the workplace," Fritson says.

Training sessions are based on a model Elliott implemented while working at Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. That program helped increase employee satisfaction and lower annual employee turnover.

He says though this new project has a much broader goal, he hopes it will have a similar effect.

"We really can address these issues, and people on a broader basis can have a sense of having a better life," Elliott says.