Mental health professionals from the city's counseling service will provide a free screening from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Westside Community Center at 715 W. 5th St. in Tempe.
It hospitalizes more people than heart disease and cancer combined.
It affects twice as many women than men.
In one year, 30.7 million Americans are diagnosed with severe mental illness, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
To educate people and dismiss myths about mental illness, NAMI, has named October "Mental Illness Awareness Month" said Sue Davis, executive director of the NAMI's Arizona chapter.
"We want people to know that mental illnesses are brain diseases that are completely treatable," Davis said.
Mental illness includes depression, a disease that disrupts the lives of 17 percent of ASU students, according to a spring 2002 National College Health Assessment survey conducted at ASU.
To help students with mental illness, NAMI at ASU was formed in August, said Laura Schreiber, a group member and ASU student.
"The group is for those who have mental illness, those wanting to learning more about illness or those who have a family member with mental illness," Schreiber said. "It's not just for people who suffer from it."
The group discusses different methods of dealing with mental illness.
Schreiber added that a goal of NAMI at ASU is to let people know that they aren't alone.
They also periodically bring in health professionals to speak to the group, Schreiber said.
In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Month, the city of Tempe is offering free, anonymous mental health screenings for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and manic-depression.
"Tempe is offering this because depression is an enormous problem and easily treatable," said Roni Alexander, psychotherapist and counselor for the city of Tempe.
"People who are feeling sad, hopeless, helpless, suicidal, stuck in their life or are withdrawing from friends or having trouble getting up in morning should come in for a screening," Alexander said.
Mental health professionals from the city's counseling service will provide a free screening that will last around 10 minutes.
Patients will fill out a questionnaire and then meet one-on-one with a professional who will discuss the results, Alexander said.
Tempe is expecting 50-75 people to show up.
Alexander added that since college students experience many changes in their life, such as being away from home and juggling classes and work, ASU students are very susceptible to mental illness.
For Schreiber, she has said NAMI at ASU has helped her deal with depression.
"I got involved in the group because I have depression," she said. "The group has helped by making me know that I'm not alone. I don't feel so isolated."
Reach the reporter at susan.padilla@asu.edu.
