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Joining the army with past mental health issues
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Evesfall
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#1
After a long hard think I was thinking on joining the army before becoming a paramedic.
It was my dream whilst I was in school but my family prevented joining.
My depression was all tied down deep childhood abuse and neglect which resulted in me self harming a few times, having depression and taking an overdose once.
I have been depression free for a year now and happy
Take care of myself, eat healthy, my fitness levels have peaked and I have a joke supporting vulnerable adults which requires a high degree of trust and mental determination.
I applied online only to be rejected over my past depression issues and they said I could appeal.
Is it worth it?
It was my dream whilst I was in school but my family prevented joining.
My depression was all tied down deep childhood abuse and neglect which resulted in me self harming a few times, having depression and taking an overdose once.
I have been depression free for a year now and happy
Take care of myself, eat healthy, my fitness levels have peaked and I have a joke supporting vulnerable adults which requires a high degree of trust and mental determination.
I applied online only to be rejected over my past depression issues and they said I could appeal.
Is it worth it?
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04MR17
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#2
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#2
Good for you, I'm so glad to read you've got through this.
I'm sorry to hear about your rejection, I'm not the expert on the matter but it might be worth trying? To me it sounds like it's a question of whether you'd be able to cope with the mental strain of the armed forces.
Anyhow, I've moved your thread into the Armed Forces forum where there are people far more knowledgeable than me can give you advice. Do check out the rest of the forum too where you might be able to find some more information.
I'm sorry to hear about your rejection, I'm not the expert on the matter but it might be worth trying? To me it sounds like it's a question of whether you'd be able to cope with the mental strain of the armed forces.
Anyhow, I've moved your thread into the Armed Forces forum where there are people far more knowledgeable than me can give you advice. Do check out the rest of the forum too where you might be able to find some more information.
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NFI
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#3
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#3
No harm in appealing. Just don't assume you'll have your application supported. Good luck.
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Drewski
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#4
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#4
(Original post by Evesfall)
After a long hard think I was thinking on joining the army before becoming a paramedic.
It was my dream whilst I was in school but my family prevented joining.
My depression was all tied down deep childhood abuse and neglect which resulted in me self harming a few times, having depression and taking an overdose once.
I have been depression free for a year now and happy
Take care of myself, eat healthy, my fitness levels have peaked and I have a joke supporting vulnerable adults which requires a high degree of trust and mental determination.
I applied online only to be rejected over my past depression issues and they said I could appeal.
Is it worth it?
After a long hard think I was thinking on joining the army before becoming a paramedic.
It was my dream whilst I was in school but my family prevented joining.
My depression was all tied down deep childhood abuse and neglect which resulted in me self harming a few times, having depression and taking an overdose once.
I have been depression free for a year now and happy
Take care of myself, eat healthy, my fitness levels have peaked and I have a joke supporting vulnerable adults which requires a high degree of trust and mental determination.
I applied online only to be rejected over my past depression issues and they said I could appeal.
Is it worth it?
"• Current psychiatric illness
• Depressive disorders with or without treatment of any form in the last 3 years or 2 or more episodes in the last 4 years, or 3 episodes at any time.
• Anxiety symptoms within the last 12 months, if more than 1 will require assessment by the RAF medical staff
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) unless free of symptoms and not requiring treatment for at least three years
• Personality disorder
• More than one episode of deliberate self-harm of any type
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• History of alcohol dependence or harmful use
• Drug or substance dependence or harmful use
• Anorexia and bulimia"
The list is not exhaustive, and everything is taken on a case by case basis, but if you tick anything on that list is extremely unlikely you'll get in.
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Evesfall
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#5
(Original post by Drewski)
I've taken this from the pdf "medical conditions that preclude service to the RAF', but the Army's list will be pretty much identical:
"• Current psychiatric illness
• Depressive disorders with or without treatment of any form in the last 3 years or 2 or more episodes in the last 4 years, or 3 episodes at any time.
• Anxiety symptoms within the last 12 months, if more than 1 will require assessment by the RAF medical staff
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) unless free of symptoms and not requiring treatment for at least three years
• Personality disorder
• More than one episode of deliberate self-harm of any type
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• History of alcohol dependence or harmful use
• Drug or substance dependence or harmful use
• Anorexia and bulimia"
The list is not exhaustive, and everything is taken on a case by case basis, but if you tick anything on that list is extremely unlikely you'll get in.
I've taken this from the pdf "medical conditions that preclude service to the RAF', but the Army's list will be pretty much identical:
"• Current psychiatric illness
• Depressive disorders with or without treatment of any form in the last 3 years or 2 or more episodes in the last 4 years, or 3 episodes at any time.
• Anxiety symptoms within the last 12 months, if more than 1 will require assessment by the RAF medical staff
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger’s
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) unless free of symptoms and not requiring treatment for at least three years
• Personality disorder
• More than one episode of deliberate self-harm of any type
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• History of alcohol dependence or harmful use
• Drug or substance dependence or harmful use
• Anorexia and bulimia"
The list is not exhaustive, and everything is taken on a case by case basis, but if you tick anything on that list is extremely unlikely you'll get in.
My doctor accused me of self harming when i was 21 but it was a scratch from my pet.
You know I've worked so hard and it seems my childhood is also going yo ruin my adulthood too.
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cat_mac
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#6
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#6
Do you take any medication? I know a guy who applied but didn’t get in because he needed prescription cream for his acne.
They are very strict on mental health issues, for obvious reasons. Of course you can appeal but from what you’ve described and only having a year of being recovered I wouldn’t get your hopes up 😕
They are very strict on mental health issues, for obvious reasons. Of course you can appeal but from what you’ve described and only having a year of being recovered I wouldn’t get your hopes up 😕
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GalGirl101
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#7
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#7
Like others in the thread have said, you can appeal if you want just make sure that you don't get your hopes up.
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Duncan2012
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#8
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#8
It's great that you've come through things and are now happy and depression-free, and I suggest you keep your mind open about other careers (civilian paramedic perhaps?) as I suspect it's unlikely you'll make progress with an army application. Good luck however things turn out.
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Drewski
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#9
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#9
(Original post by Evesfall)
I've not self harmed since I was 19, i know they have a ban on self harm.
My doctor accused me of self harming when i was 21 but it was a scratch from my pet.
You know I've worked so hard and it seems my childhood is also going yo ruin my adulthood too.
I've not self harmed since I was 19, i know they have a ban on self harm.
My doctor accused me of self harming when i was 21 but it was a scratch from my pet.
You know I've worked so hard and it seems my childhood is also going yo ruin my adulthood too.
Duncan's post is spot on.
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Evesfall
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#10
(Original post by Duncan2012)
It's great that you've come through things and are now happy and depression-free, and I suggest you keep your mind open about other careers (civilian paramedic perhaps?) as I suspect it's unlikely you'll make progress with an army application. Good luck however things turn out.
It's great that you've come through things and are now happy and depression-free, and I suggest you keep your mind open about other careers (civilian paramedic perhaps?) as I suspect it's unlikely you'll make progress with an army application. Good luck however things turn out.
I applied but withdrew as I was terrified of having my dreams crushed over and over again.
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Helpfulness 1
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#11
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#11
Don’t let anyone crush your dreams. There are lots of laws against discrimination that employers must respect. Go and get some careers advice - you sound like someone who is capable of putting your past behind you and moving forward. Go for it x
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Drewski
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#12
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#12
(Original post by Helpfulness 1)
There are lots of laws against discrimination that employers must respect.
There are lots of laws against discrimination that employers must respect.
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