Naval Center Wants To Change Attitudes To Combat Stress

Naval Center Wants To Change Attitudes To Combat Stress
BY ALISON ST JOHN
June 2, 2011
Military leaders at Camp Pendleton are evaluating a new program, developed for Marines returning from combat in Afghanistan. The Navy, which provides medical care for the Marines, wants to find ways to tackle potential problems early.

Photo by Alison St John
Above: Captain Scott Johnston Director of Naval Center for Operational and Combat Stress Control,

May 31st 2011
Capt. Scott Johnston, director of the Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control in San Diego, said he wants to create a sea change in attitudes about mental stress. He’s working with Camp Pendleton on a model program to better identify signs of combat stress.

“The initial goal was to de-stigmatize that,” Johnston said. “It’s not like you have to say, ‘Oh, I have a problem, I’ve got to talk to mental health.‘ It’s like, ‘hey, you come back, you get your gun checked to make sure that it’s operating property, we’re going to send you over to the mental health guys to make sure that everything’s ok upstairs too.’"
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Naval Center Wants To Change Attitudes To Combat Stress