One month after the terrorist tragedy, Michigan Community Mental Health agencies will take part in National Depression Screening Day.

Agency officials say they have seen a significant increase in the number of people using their services after the Sept. 11 attacks.

International relations junior Gary Thelen said he thinks people in America suffer from depression more than anywhere else in the world.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure in America because they are the leading superpower,” he said. “Depression comes from Americans being afraid of being knocked off the top.”

For the MSU community, the Psychological Clinic will offer its own free screening and discussions for anyone concerned about depression from 6-9 p.m. today in 7E Olds Hall.

The clinic will also present a lecture on post-traumatic stress disorder and show a video on different types of depression.

“Anybody who’s been having feelings of sadness or is having a hard time being motivated to do things for a long period of time would benefit by talking with us,” said Lisa Blaskey, a psychology graduate student and clinician at the Psychological Clinic.

Clinicians will score anonymous questionnaires to diagnose whether participants suffer from depression. People may also fill out questionnaires for friends about whom they may be concerned.

Terry Barclay, a psychology graduate student and administrative assistant at the clinic, said the questionnaires will identify symptoms of depression through issues such as sleep, appetite and thoughts of suicide.

Once diagnosed, participants are given the option of a one-on-one consultation with a clinician, who can discuss the differences between therapy and medication treatments, Barclay said.

Communication sophomore Riley Turcott said he thinks National Depression Screening Day is a good time to monitor mental health.

“I definitely think many people have depression and they don’t realize it,” he said. “Even if you don’t think you have something wrong with you, it’s always good to verify if you’re okay.”

But others say the idea of depression is stressed too much in society.

“I wouldn’t buy into depression screening,” economics senior Kevin McGrady said. “All this talk today about depression gets it into people’s heads so they think they have it when they really don’t.”