Joining the Amry with Recent Mental Health Issues?

101hassle

I have signed up for the Army and am just about to get the medical forms done by the doctors.

Around 1 year ago and backwards 1 year from that I had a mental health problem. It has been well resolved since but I was talking with my secondary doctor and he said he wouldn't deem it a good idea.

Now I'm wondering if my primary doctor writes down the past issues will I be deemed unfit for the army.

I know it may not be possible to answer in full but shining some light might help make me feel better about my future with this application process.

Thanks

peteuk

Not 100% on this but a friend of mine who had suffered with post natal depression was told to reaply a year later. (To the RAF). This was so that it was proven not a problem.

Hope that gives you some hope, unfortantly you probably wont know until youve got the medical docs sorted.

john96

The Army is ( naturally ) wary of mental health issues, you will be working at times in very stressful situations. I think its better that you are honest about any past "incidents" as to do otherwise is unfair on you, and possibly your collegues.

esmf73

speaking as the wife of someone who is in the army and currently has mental health problems - don't join the army - join the RAF or Navy perhaps, but not the army as if you continue to have problems, you won't get the help or advice or support that you'll need.

They're NOT good at admitting that serving personnel have mental health issues.

Fergie76

Get yourself over to arrse and ask any questions you have there.

mountainofdebt

101hassle wrote: »

I have signed up for the Army and am just about to get the medical forms done by the doctors.

Around 1 year ago and backwards 1 year from that I had a mental health problem. It has been well resolved since but I was talking with my secondary doctor and he said he wouldn't deem it a good idea.

Now I'm wondering if my primary doctor writes down the past issues will I be deemed unfit for the army.

I know it may not be possible to answer in full but shining some light might help make me feel better about my future with this application process.

Thanks

As a mum who has quickly had to gen up on the medical requirements of the armed services, you need to be aware that there are certain medical conditions that will automatically bar you from entry, OCD (not saying you have this, this is just an example) of being one.

The armed forces use a system called PHULHHEEMS to grade medical suitability and the bit you are interested in is the M bit. The guidelines can be found here : http://www.mediafire.com/?w4sxy5txuym#

A grading of 8 means that you are medically unfit for service.

I don't know if the recruitment process is the same as for other armed services, but in the case of the RN, you personally fill in the medical questionnaire, have your medical but are deemed not to have passed your medical until any queries are satisfied......so I'm guessing that a report would be needed from your GP and perhaps the specialist that saw you (sorry don't know what you mean by primary and secondary doctors)

tbh I would use my comments as a guide - the person who can give you the definitive answer relating to your question should be your contact in the recruitment office,although my experience of them is that they are nothing more than paper pushers.

dmg24

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I don't know if the recruitment process is the same as for other armed services, but in the case of the RN, you personally fill in the medical questionnaire, have your medical but are deemed not to have passed your medical until any queries are satisfied......so I'm guessing that a report would be needed from your GP and perhaps the specialist that saw you (sorry don't know what you mean by primary and secondary doctors)

Primary doctors are GP, secondary are those that GP's refer to, so in the case of MH Services a psychiatrist.

DX2

http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/AFCO_Form5-U.pdf

Alias_Omega

OP,

If you never apply, you will never know.


Regards,

Alias

mountainofdebt

OP

Whilst I agree with the comment that if you don't apply you'll never know please bear in mind (as my son has found out) that whilst civilian doctors (so in this case your gp and your civilian specialist) may think that you are fit enough to serve, at the end of the day it will be the militiary medical people that will have the final say and they may come to a different conclusion to that of your civilian doctors.

BLT_2

You have a primary doctor, a secondary doctor, a history of mental health problems and you actually think that joining the Army where you could be sent into dangerous conflict zones where you will suffer a high degree of mental stress is a good idea?

I would re-evaluate your career plans if I were you. Furthermore if you lie on your medical records and fail to advise the services of your past history then your enlistment will be invalid and they will discharge you regardless of how much training you have done.