Will new stress hotline work for Marines?

New stress hot line launched for Marines
January 17, 2011 8:35 PM
BY GUNNERY SGT. BILL LISBON - SPECIAL TO YUMA SUN
An anonymous “by Marine/for Marine” hot line was recently launched to help deal with various stress-related issues before they lead to serious Corps-crippling problems such as suicide, substance abuse and domestic violence.

Dubbed “DStress,” the service lets Marines seek assistance from “one of our own” to build skills necessary to cope with the widely varying challenges of life in the Corps and the inevitable stress of combat, according to a Marine Administrative Message released Monday.

Besides a toll-free hot line via telephone and Skype, Dstressline.com allows Marines to help themselves to information and resources. A live online chat feature is also expected to launch by the end of January.

“If this DStress line saves one Marine or one family member, then it is well worth it,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Timmerman with the Marine Corps' Personal and Family Readiness Division.

The counselors on the other end of the line are veteran Marines, Navy corpsmen who've served in the Fleet Marine Force or civilian counselors specifically trained in Marine Corps culture, said Timmerman, who briefed air station leaders here on the program last month.

The hot line won't be a crutch or a way to escape personal responsibility, said Timmerman. Instead, counselors will help callers set goals to deal with the stress, provide resources or referrals and follow up to see how they are doing.

“We want this to be that personal,” said Timmerman.
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New stress hot line launched for Marines