Perceived stigma and barriers to mental health care in Marines attending the Combat Operational Stress Control program.

The Department of Defense is aggressively addressing combat stress reactions (CSRs) through comprehensive Combat/Operational Stress Control (COSC) briefings/programs and referral resources for the prevention, identification, and treatment of stress reactions. The purpose of this study was to develop and administer a survey to assess perceptions of CSRs and barriers to care which affect help-seeking behavior in Marines attending the COSC program. A sample of 553 U.S. Marine Corps Officers and Enlisted personnel from Air (44%), Logistics (38%), and Infantry (18%) communities were recruited for the survey. The results suggested that misconceptions and stigma about CSRs still persist in Marines. The findings reinforced the need to facilitate treatment utilization by focusing on mental health-related stigma as well as organizational barriers.