Many people are feeling the effects of the nation’s economic downturn, and for some, it’s bringing great hardship.

People are losing their homes to foreclosure and being forced to postpone retirement. For some people, the sinking economy is leading to depression and even suicide.

Lawrence experts say mounting negative economic variables – from high gasoline prices, to the recent stock market plummets, and even uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the presidential election – are bringing some people down.

“We really have been hearing for quite a long time about people having additional stress, additional fears, even more depression,” said Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters Counseling Center, 211 E. Eighth St. “We hear a lot of stress.”

Local social workers and mental health experts say only a few people have come to them as a direct result of the recent financial downturn on Wall Street. But the economy, coupled with other stresses, can cause problems.

“For some people who are already down, I think it can be one more thing that just kind of illustrates a global sense of bad news, bad things in the future,” said Marciana Vequist, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center psychologist. “That’s what depression is all about.”

Payne Spencer, a private Lawrence psychologist, said he’s hearing from a number of people concerned about their financial future. He said some elderly patients are concerned about their retirement, while people who are on a fixed income are afraid of not having enough gasoline to even run errands.

Vequist said she’s seen an increase in people needing help because of domestic arguments over money and credit use. She’s telling clients to use credit wisely and not become infatuated with watching their stocks on an hourly, or even daily, basis.

Epstein said some people’s fears, which also include concerns over job stability and having enough money to pay for health care, will soon be compounded as they look for ways to pay winter heating bills.

While there haven’t been any major cases of suicide connected to financial problems reported in northeast Kansas, Epstein – who monitors suicides in the county – said it can sometimes be difficult to tell when financial struggles weigh in.

“It’s really important that we : make sure that we’re doing the best that we can to take care of ourselves,” Vequist said.

Epstein encouraged people who are financially able to consider donating to the United Way or a charitable organization that will help those who are struggling.

“Even if our immediate circle of friends and families is doing OK, in our community of Douglas County : there are a lot of people whose lives are much harder because of finances,” Epstein said. “So for those who can help, now’s a good time.”