By GREGORY N. HEIRES

A year after the terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center, many union members who worked at Ground Zero are still haunted by the barbaric event. They are beginning to recognize that they may be battling searing memories for the rest of their lives.

Tragically, two Paramedics exposed to the horror that day committed suicide.

Daniel Stewart hung himself in the basement of his Long Beach, L.I. home, on June 7. James Kay shot himself Jan. 8 at his home on Staten Island.

Coworkers attribute the EMS workers' decisions to kill themselves partly to their difficulty in coping with the trauma of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.

"We have seen a noticeable increase in stress-related situations and signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among our ranks," said President Patrick J. Bahnken, president of Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507 "We have seen increases in drug and alcohol incidents, confrontations on the job, and marital problems."

Since Sept. 11, Local 2507 has provided debriefing and counseling support for virtually all of its members through its Peer Support Team, which the union local set up several years ago after a number of EMS workers committed suicide. Meanwhile, union officials fault the Fire Dept. for dragging its feet in providing counseling service, imposing a "zero tolerance" policy on substance abuse, and rigidly disciplining workers for stress-related on-the-job incidents.

Immediately after Sept. 11, District Council 37's Personal Service Unit began offering group and individual counseling to DC 37 members. Trained counselors met with hundreds of members at job sites.

PSU continued the service in the ensuing months, and it provided additional on-site counseling for 911 operators - Police Communications Technicians and Supervising Police Communications Technicians represented by Clerical-Administrative Local 1549—at the one-year anniversary.

The attack was particularly brutal for the PCTs. On 9/11, they took frantic calls from people trapped in the Twin Towers and struggled to dispatch emergency workers to the scene amid unprecedented pressure and chaos. Forced to work overtime, they also had to contend with worries about their own children and other loved ones.

"The PCTs are really among the unsung heroes of 9/11," said Maryse Duvalsaint, a supervising social worker in PSU. "They have shown tremendous strength and resilience."

The DC 37 Health and Safety Dept. helped the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health with a study of the physical and mental health effects that 9/11 had on workers in the area. An August interim report found that 24 percent of the workers at the Borough of Manhattan Community College near Ground Zero experienced depression and 15 percent exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

People who suffer from PTSD typically have difficulty sleeping and feel emotionally detached or estranged. They often relive their traumatic experience through nightmares and flashbacks. The disorder is also associated with strained social relations, employment instability, difficulty with parenting, and marital discord, including divorce.

Over 200 employees at the Fire Dept. are on leave because of stress caused by their work at Ground Zero and the loss of coworkers and family on Sept. 11. This summer, Ron Vega, a Local 375 member who was part of the Dept. of Design and Construction's team of engineers who oversaw the $1 billion cleanup at Ground Zero, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.

Mr. Vega figured all along that he would be seriously troubled by his exposure to bodies and body parts and the psychological weight of working for months at what he viewed as giant gravesite, not merely a construction site. What actually prompted him to seek counseling was his loss of memory and loss of words.

"I realize that this is a lifetime illness, and the counseling is helping me learn how to control the symptoms," Mr. Vega said.

Also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, EMT Joe Conzo sought counseling two weeks after the event. He and his partner, EMT William Trouccolo, were together near the World Trade Center when the first tower collapsed.

"A few days ago I was driving on the Grand Central and the planes were passing so low that I wanted to put both feet on the brakes," said Mr. Conzo.

"I have a lot of trouble sleeping. Sometimes I am now fearful of heights. My palms sweat when I get into an elevator in a large building."

Mr. Truoccolo, who was swept up by a wind current and knocked unconscious when the tower collapsed, suffered four broken ribs and a fractured lower leg on Sept. 11. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center by boat for treatment that day, and he was out of work for eight weeks.

Mr. Truoccolo said he has trouble sleeping three or four nights a week and describes himself as jittery. He recognizes that he exhibits symptoms of PTSD, but so far, he has resisted his wife's suggestion that he seek counseling.

"I eventually think I will get there," Mr. Truoccolo said. "It can't hurt."

While not downplaying the gravity or depth of the psychological scars of 9/11, Senior Psychologist Sharon Kahn, a Local 1189 member who did volunteer work after the attack, noted that the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder appears to be lower than many mental health experts predicted.

PSU Director Robert Terruso said any members or retirees seeking help should contact PSU at (212) 815-1250 or Safe Horizon at (212) 557-7700.