Can I join the police force with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Unknown_80

Hi everyone,
I'm currently 26, when I was 21 and at university I experienced depression which included self-harm and a trip to A&E, all of this lasted just under a year. Within this time I initially received a diagnosis of mixed anxiety and depression that was then changed to Borderline Personality Disorder (or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder). I haven't been  experiencing any severe symptoms related to either of these illnesses since I was 21, and have not experienced even mild symptoms since I was 23. The last time I ever saw my GP about any of these issues was when I was experiencing mild symptoms, such as brain fog, and I was 23 at this point and undertaking a master's degree. Since then, I've been okay and this is without having received any mental health treatment whatsoever. I was also discharged from a community mental health team when I was 23 under the grounds there was "no scope" for me seeing them any longer.
However, I still have this diagnosis on my my medical record as I don't think it's something that can just be taken off or deemed to be "cured", even if I have been symptom free for a while. Is it worth seeing my GP again to inform them that I have been symptom free?
I know that the police in the UK have no blanket ban on issues like this, however, given the context what are my chances of getting in? I will also note that I have regularly volunteered with people in vulnerable situations such as refugees, people with mental health and drug related issues, so I know my mental health issues do not impact my ability to deal with stuff like that.
Any insight would be much appreciated, thank you.

Brynsam

I think the only thing you can do is apply and see what happens. Good luck!

Undervalued

I used to know someone who suffered from similar MH problems in their early twenties. Like you they obtained post graduate qualifications and then worked for several years in their chosen field. Although we have lost touch, I understand they have had a career change and joined the police in their early thirties. However I believe they spent a couple of years as a part time volunteer special constable first, which may have helped?

MEM62

OP, I am sympathetic to your situation and my OH's son has similar issues.  He also expressed an interest is the Police as a career.  My concern, with several of my friends being serving Officers, is that if he at times can struggle with day to day life how is he going to deal with the emotional challenges of being a Police officer.  It is a tough job and you can be called upon to deal with stressful and even harrowing situations.  I have discussed this with him and suggested that he speak with some serving officers and also the recruitment teams to explore this further.   

sharpe106

Might not be the answer you want to hear, and I am sure against all the political correct policies. But lets be honest you have had problems with your mental health why put yourself in a situation that could potentially make it worse. You will regularly be in a high stress environment. Answer yourself this question honestly you were in a life and death situation and you had a choice of two police officers to come and rescue you which would you choose the one with a history of mental health issues or the one without. I might sound harsh and unsympathetic but I am not, but the reality is if the stress could make your previous issues come back, if you want to join the police how about an admin job or something less stressful and see how that goes?

Unknown_80

Thank you for the responses everyone, much appreciated. Like I said in my original post, I have been managing with day to day life perfectly fine for years now, and in no way have my past mental health issues had any adverse impact on my life since I was 21. Mental health issues affect everyone differently. I have relatives who have spent brief amounts of time in psychiatric hospital's and later went on to become police officers and they're doing fine. And if I had to be rescued by a police officer, I wouldn't care less whether they had a mental health condition or not, people go through health assessment's during the recruitment process where they are assessed on a case by case basis. If their mental health issues impacted their ability to be a police officer, they wouldn't have been recruited in the first place.

Manxman_in_exile

Unknown_80 said:

...people go through health assessment's during the recruitment process where they are assessed on a case by case basis. If their mental health issues impacted their ability to be a police officer, they wouldn't have been recruited in the first place.

Doesn't that sort of render your original question redundant then?  You'll only get an answer by applying as only the people screening/recruiting you will be in a position to judge - nobody here can tell you

sharpe106

Unknown_80 said:

Thank you for the responses everyone, much appreciated. Like I said in my original post, I have been managing with day to day life perfectly fine for years now, and in no way have my past mental health issues had any adverse impact on my life since I was 21. Mental health issues affect everyone differently. I have relatives who have spent brief amounts of time in psychiatric hospital's and later went on to become police officers and they're doing fine. And if I had to be rescued by a police officer, I wouldn't care less whether they had a mental health condition or not, people go through health assessment's during the recruitment process where they are assessed on a case by case basis. If their mental health issues impacted their ability to be a police officer, they wouldn't have been recruited in the first place.

That is great that it has not effected you. But for the majority of people stress effects mental health, and lets be honest most people will not get nowhere near the level of stress that police officers do whatever they say. I am sure plenty who have had mental health issues cope with it fine, but my main point was why put yourself in a position that could make you mental health worse?

gettingtheresometime

I'll see if a relative of mine still has his medical questionnaire to see what questions are asked re mental health.