help very much needed

hi,

if anyone can help and offer advise on this please please do so.

in may this year i was going to get sacked from my civvie job due to a bitch of a manager, i got advise to go on the sick whilst i looked for a new job.
i went to the doctors and explained about my very ill grandad who i help to look after and the doc dianosed me with acute stress and depression relating to this.
looking back i was stupid for taking this as i was thinking short term.

he gave me a prescription and gave me two weeks off, i dont know what the prescription was for as i ripped it up and binned it outside the docs.

i need more time so i rang up again and with out an appointment or speaking directly to the doctor, he gave me a further 2 weeks off.

i have been training since june and lost 3 stone of fat/muscle and am only approx 2 months from being ready to start to join the infantry. i have only just thought about how my medical record could effect my recuitment.

i need any advise on this as its causing sleepless nights.

to clarify i have never suffered with depression or any other mental problems.

what do i do from here??

either post or pm

many thanks in advance

Stretfordender

 

Im afraid you may be stuck young man

you now have a medical history of depression (as in, in your medical notes) and you have been prescribed medication too

Your medical questionarre will result in you being referred to a service specialist, or simply deferred for at least two years.

 

im turning 24 in april and desperatly want to join the infantry (recruit till 26)
would it be worthwhile talking to my doc, or asking for a specalist upon recuitment and spilling the beans?

 

1. go through with your application and see what happens.
be prepared for a knock-back, if it happens then go to plan B

If you dont get knocked-back then its a bonus.


2. the recruiting age limits will rise shortly

Ive PM'd you

good luck

 

What's the problem with having a medical history of depression? It's commonly enough diagnosed these days isn't it? Particularly whilst in the Services? I could understand if we're talking 'mad axeman' but 'mild clinical depression' or whatever the shrinks call it these days? I wonder how many serving soldiers have this on their docs - medication or no medication?

 

youre missing the point Bubbles

he isnt in the army yet - therefore he is competing against the standard entry requirements as set down in PULHHEEMS.

If an individiual has a history of ' depression' they will find it difficult with the increasing pressures of service life as compaired to civvi life.

 

i can feel another tick in my list of f**k up's box coming on

 

what are you going to lose by applying? NOWT

try and find out! - if they let you in, bonus
if not - wait and re-apply, or go to plan B

 

thanks bedpan

wouldnt be worth making an anon phone call to my careers office then?

 

No - cos there wouldnt be anyone there qualified to answer your question!

go and see your GP and explain the situ - that couldnt hurt!

 

cheers mate

feel more reassured now

thanks for your time.

SE

 

[/quote]
youre missing the point Bubbles

he isnt in the army yet - therefore he is competing against the standard entry requirements as set down in PULHHEEMS.

If an individiual has a history of ' depression' they will find it difficult with the increasing pressures of service life as compaired to civvi life.[/quote]

OK - hear what you're saying - but that leads me on to ask about those serving soldiers with 'depression' on their docs?

 

Reference your situation as a carer for your grandfather... there is a lot of research about the stress faced by people looking after a loved one, and the implications on qualifty of life, mental health etc. So, if you do get turned down on your first application I would definetely appeal.

Yes service life is stressful compared to civilian life, but then I should imagine even the most mentally fit squaddie would have trouble dealing with unemployment and looking after an elderly loved one in poor health. Maybe you could even suggest in an appeal, that because of it you learned various coping methods that enable you to better deal with stress - e.g. fitness would be a good one.

Also, there is a little booklet the Army give to leaving servicemen (as I was) with all sorts of information on why it is better to be in the Army than out. Now if I remember correctly, there is a guy who says that he hated leaving the Army so much, that he was diagnosed with depression in civvie street, so he decided to join back up... and he was allowed back in.

So like others have said, do not give up hope.

Good-luck!

 

so go along with i had depression or spill beans when asked about it and seem like a liar??

 

youre missing the point Bubbles

he isnt in the army yet - therefore he is competing against the standard entry requirements as set down in PULHHEEMS.

If an individiual has a history of ' depression' they will find it difficult with the increasing pressures of service life as compaired to civvi life.[/quote]

OK - hear what you're saying - but that leads me on to ask about those serving soldiers with 'depression' on their docs?[/quote]

when applying to join any service - you must meet the fitness criteria.
once in the service - you can become as ill as you like. once you are in, you're IN. then if you become too ill - you get medically discharged. simple really.