JANESVILLE, Wis. -- In two days, Janesville's General Motors plant will close its doors but many workers are already feeling the impact.

Erstwhile GM worker Jim Roehl has a lot on his mind these days.

"(I've been thinking) just what's going to happen, what am I going to do. I mean, I've been doing this for 28 years almost," he said. "That's a long time."

Roehl is a GM body shop inspector, husband and father of three, but will be out of a job on Tuesday.

"I'm sure it's going to be pretty emotional. A lot of people are pretty sad right now," he said. "It's just hard to see it go."

Dr. Ken Robbins, a psychiatrist and depression expert, said that the plant's closing can have traumatic effect on area workers.

"These are people who took very difficult jobs and they took them because they presumed it involved job security," he said.

Robbins said that now that that security is gone, serious mental health problems can arise.

"I would anticipate that many people who are in this position are going to be angry and are going to be sad and somewhat disoriented," he said.

Robbins said that happiness is possible and ultimately depends on workers' ability to cope with change.

"For people who have lost these positions it's going to be really important that they find ways to adapt because life isn't going to be the same," he said. "And if they remain angry and frustrated that life isn't going to be the same, that might make it difficult to find a new opportunity."

Roehl's new opportunity is taking him back to school to learn heavy equipment operation. He said that he will also focus on getting his daughters to college, WISC-TV reported.

"I just don't want them to end up in this situation," he said.

Robbins said that he's dealt with many auto workers finding comfort in alcohol, but he said that it often leads to more anxiety. Other signs of depression include trouble sleeping at night, loss of appetite, low energy and feelings of sadness and suicidal thoughts.

To help combat depression, Robbins said that one way to build self-esteem is by volunteering in the community.

For more information, Robbins urges workers to contact a mental health specialist.