help very much needed

[Stretfordender]

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

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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.

 

[Stretfordender]

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?

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

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.

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?

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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.

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.

 

[Stretfordender]

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

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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

 

[Stretfordender]

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?

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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

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

 

[Stretfordender]

cheers mate

feel more reassured now

thanks for your time.

SE

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

[/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?

 

[amazing__lobster]

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

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!

 

[Stretfordender]

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??

 

[Bedpan2zero]

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.

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

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.

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.[/quote]

Hmmmm. Not sure about that. When I applied to change my commision to a Reg C some 20 odd years ago they failed me because I had failed to meet 'joining criteria' for hearing (I was, and still am, H3, thanks to Seamus O'Timing Device). I had to get a 2nd opinion (from Harley Street, at a cost of 120 quid to myself) to get through, confirming that it was 'service in NI' wot done it. A 'special medical board' had to be convened - which I fortunately passed - the in service standard even for SF being H3 as I remember. I couldn't work it out at the time - I could have been SF at H3 and OK but not a snot nosed Truckie at H3?

Seems like double standards to me - or has it all changed?

 

[amazing__lobster]

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??

That is a decision only you can make.

 

[Stretfordender]

can you advise me on pro's and con's so i can make an informed decision.

pm me if needed

cheers

 

[Wyvern]

I suffered from reactive depression - had 6 months on antidepressants. Because there was a triggering factor, and because they were convinced I was ok, I passed my medical. If you can show it's reactive and that you're ok, you've a good chance of passing I should think. As an MO friend of mine put it, everyone can potentially have a 'wibble'... if you've gone through something pretty sh!t, it's a normal reaction - 1 in 4 people will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life, it's something that is swept under the carpet far too much and people should be much more aware of and accepting of depression.
They may want a deferral period of up to 3 years, but if you're ok and didn't ever take the medication, it may come down to one year.

 

[brew_n_beer]

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?

You shouldnt need to worry too hard about missing the recuitment window on account of age as the army has recently announced that it will be bumping up the recuitment age to 33. However I do not know when this is in effect from.