With tens of thousands of Americans personally affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, mental health experts are paying close attention to signs of depression.

Thursday is National Depression Screening Day, an annual observance to educate the public on mental health issues and help people identify symptoms of depression and other mental health problems.

Thousands of facilities nationwide -- including hundreds in areas affected by the hurricanes -- are offering residents and evacuees free mental health screenings.

Experts say 19 million Americans experience depression each year. The condition is marked by persistent sadness, sleep and appetite changes, restlessness, irritability, physical complaints, fatigue, feelings of guilt, hopelessness and even thoughts of suicide.

Despite an 80 percent success rate, only half of those who could benefit from help -- including counseling and medical treatment -- receive any, according to the National Mental Health Association.

Although experts expect a fair number of participants in the hurricane-affected states to have symptoms that appear to rise to a level of clinical depression, others will not and may simply require a sympathetic ear and education on how to manage stress, according to Screening for Mental Health Inc.

"Post-traumatic stress disorder is best evaluated one month after a trauma, so the fact that the program falls six weeks after Katrina is important," said Dr. Douglas Jacobs, founder of National Depression Screening Day. "In addition, many who will develop other disorders, including depression and anxiety, may exhibit symptoms at this time now that the initial shock has worn off."

Even those who watched the recent devastation on television or who have friends and family in the area may need additional support at this time. Event organizers have alerted sites nationwide to be on the lookout for intense emotions during the free screening day.

"Although all emotional responses are normal, persistent feelings of despair, fear or anger may be signs of depression or another mental health problem," said Michael Faenza, president and CEO of the NMHA. "With the right resources and information, we can help prevent mental health problems in individuals impacted by these disasters so they can focus on rebuilding their lives."

Postpartum Depression Included In Screening

The birth of a baby is a joyous occasion, but about 400,000 women in America experience severe sadness and anxiety after giving birth, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.

Postpartum depression is a serious condition that affects between 10 and 15 percent of women. It often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Now, as part of National Depression Screening Day, special attention is being paid to women feeling more than just the baby blues.

Jen Downey Wolcott suffered a miscarriage four years ago, but more than a month afterward, she still wasn't feeling like herself.

"It wasn't like a normal grieving," she said. "I was crying all the time -- even six weeks after the miscarriage. It was like I was stuck in the moment, and I just wasn't able to move forward."

She had trouble sleeping, was always exhausted and felt anxious about everything.

"As time went by and it wasn't lifting, I realized that this just can't be me reacting to a loss and even if it was I need help," Wolcott said.

She was suffering from postpartum depression. But it took trips to several different doctors to get the help she needed -- something Dr. Laura Petrillo said is often a challenge.

"They may go to their ob they may mention how they're feeling to the baby's pediatrician, they may call their primary care doctor and any of these people may or may not know how to refer them in a timely fashion," said Petrillo, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

This year, National Depression Screening day is trying to reach out to the many women who may have postpartum depression with a special screening test. Filling out a questionnaire on how you're feeling and meeting with a health care professional is all it takes to get you on the road to recovery.

"It will help them to be a better mother to their child and, in the long run, it will help the child," Petrillo said.

Wolcott got the treatment she needed -- a combination of antidepressants and talk therapy that continued until after she gave birth to her second child.

"It has nothing to do with how strong you are as a person," Wolcott said. "It's a medical condition. It's a health crisis like anything else, and you need to get treated for it and take good care of yourself."