National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD), organized by Screening for Mental Health, takes place Oct. 10 and gives individuals the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire to see if their stress, sadness or anxiety may be the result of depression or a similar disorder. Thousands of organizations nationwide are hosting events where the public can assess their risk for depression, learn what to do about it and talk to mental health professionals about their situation. To find a screening nearest you, please visit the Screening for Mental Health Web site, www.mentalhealthscreening.org. 

According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), depression affects at least 9.9 million adults, about 5 percent of the United States population, in a given year. There is also evidence suggesting depression affects individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at a higher rate than the general population.

To learn more about depression and kidney disease, check out AAKP's brochures, Understanding Depression in Kidney Disease and When Your Loved One is Depressed.

This article originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Renal Flash.