Marines Take Up Fight on Postwar Stress

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Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, now coming home after a seven-month deployment in Iraq, are being given health exams to detect early signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, among them, memory loss, intolerance, anger, sleep problems and "hyper-vigilance."

Every Marine and sailor is also required to see the chaplain. The meetings can take five minutes, an hour or more, depending on how much the person wants to say, said Navy Cmdr. Bill Devine, head chaplain of the 1st Marine Division, who was with Marines during fighting in Fallouja and Ramadi.

Individual and group counseling are offered, along with marital counseling. Follow-up calls are made to all sailors and Marines after 30, 60 and 90 days.

Marines, at all levels, are under orders to abandon the macho culture of stoicism and overcome the stigma that surrounds seeking psychological help.

"I made it a point to say, 'You're not weak or anything less than a Marine if you ask for help,' " said Staff Sgt. Patrick Coleman, a platoon sergeant.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stress2apr02,1,4334614.story?coll=la-headlines-california