Prior Mental Health History Police Employment

[john351]

Hi, I'm 22 years old and I want to apply to be a police officer, but I have a question about the psychological requirements. From age 11 to 18, I saw a psychiatrist because I had bipolar disorder. But now I don't see the psychiatrist anymore because I've been treated.

I have a record of the last 4 years as "mentally stable" and everyone I know would be willing to testify to that if asked. I also mentioned to my psychiatrist that I wanted to be a police officer the last couple years I saw him, and he didn't seem to have any problem with it, even encouraged it. The question I have is, what would the department I'm applying for have to say about it?

[john351]

I'm sorry, about 45 people have viewed this post thus far, and it seems I may have asked a rather "impossible-to-know" question.

If you cannot give a definite answer, then your opinions and thoughts/feelings would suffice.

Thanks!

[MDEMT280]

The easiest way to find out what the department you're interested in thinks about your history is to call up a recruiter for that department and ask.

That said, there are many factors to be considered when evaluating a mental health history. There are factors that mitigate the issue, and factors that make it worse. The bottom line, however, is that the agency needs to know that you can do the job safely and effectively, without posing a danger to others or yourself. Odds are, they will err on the side of caution.

Your friends and your psychiatrist may think you're fine, YOU may think you're fine, but law enforcement is high stress. There are many LEOs who were fine before they started who aren't now. If you're already suffering or have suffered from a mental illness, there is a very real concern that it will come back, and with a vengeance.

My opinon here: You were treated for seven years. You've been off treatment for four. That's a lot of treatment time, and not a lot of time since then to see how you can handle things. For the sake of your health, I'd recommend not pursuing law enforcement at this juncture. There are plenty of other professions out there that may not jeopardize the progress you've made in fighting your illness.

[Roger Dat]

Bipolar disorder is most likely going to DQ you.

[retdetsgt]

I know of a couple of Asst DA's that are bipolar, but never known of a cop that was.

The job would make the low points even worse than they would normally be. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet you wouldn't be accepted. Sorry.

[carlajake]

You should not have a problem becoming a police officer. There is a law called the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of a physical or mental disability.

The ONLY exception to this rule is that if the disability would interfere with the function of the job. If that be the case, then the prospective employer must prove that the disability is so bad that it would interfere with the job.

Unfortunately, many employers believe that they are not required to follow the ADA. Law enforcement is probably the most common example. They believe that a "history" is substantial enough to draw the conclusion that the applicant would be a problem. However, it is important to remember that law enforcement is just like any other job, and it is under the ADA.

They MAY disqualify you for taking any medications because the medication itself can cause mind altering effects, but you haven't been taking any medications in the last 4 years.

In your case, there is absolutely no reason to disqualify you under the ADA. You have demonstrated in the last 4 years that you are doing fine. That should result in a positive score in the Psychological Evaluation if you are telling the truth there. If you pass the psych eval (which would prove that you are mentally stable enough for the job), but if they decide to DQ you because of your past mental health history that can be shown to be irrelevent to how you are now, then that would be against the ADA.

The issue they may have is "liability". However, if you pass the psych eval, then you are not a "liability" because you have demonstated as such. To then continue to say you are a "liability" would seem to reflect that they created that label as an excuse because THEY believe you would be a problem. The reality is that they have laws they need to abide by.

Call the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) toll-free for more information: 1-800-526-7234

Present the information to the department you're applying for, and if they refuse to rule out any "liablity" issues despite showing you're not (by passing the psych eval), then I recommend you take them to court. Disabilities that are shown to not be disqualifying (either by severity, or recency) are under just as much protection as race or color when it comes to employment.

I might get some negative reactions from law enforcement personal on here, but my friend is a lawyer that specializes in employment discrimination and I know what I am talking about.

I wish you luck!

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Hi - I joined this forum just today and this is my very first post! Instead of introducing myself and learning about what this place is all about, instead I will give suspect advice to advance an unknown agenda. I offer no credentials other than my 'friend', who is a lawyer, so that must make me an expert on everything I say.

Oh, and the police who have actually DONE this job, and perhaps sat on hiring panels and are well-versed on ADA requirements may get upset with the things I say, but I am right and they are wrong.

[Roger Dat]

+1!!!

[mcsap]

I am not sure but perhaps the poster forgot to mention that they stayed at a Holiday Inn last night ??

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Hi, I'm 22 years old and I want to apply to be a police officer, but I have a question about the psychological requirements. From age 11 to 18, I saw a psychiatrist because I had bipolar disorder. But now I don't see the psychiatrist anymore because I've been treated.

I have a record of the last 4 years as "mentally stable" and everyone I know would be willing to testify to that if asked. I also mentioned to my psychiatrist that I wanted to be a police officer the last couple years I saw him, and he didn't seem to have any problem with it, even encouraged it. The question I have is, what would the department I'm applying for have to say about it?

To the OP, what you have said in your post is not enough to base a hiring decision on. Since the mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder is medication, are you currently on a maintenance medication regimen? Your statement "I've been treated" is ambiguous. What happens if you miss a dose?

Goodwin & Jamison state that a bipolar depression is generally more pervasive with sleep, appetite disturbance and nonreactive mood. These things can happen quite frequently in the law enforcement field.

Despite what the previous poster would lead you to believe, liability to the agency is not diminished by your successful treatment. They can (and may) say that for the past 11 years, you were seen for 7 of those years for bipolar disorder.

A final note on your psychiatrist encouraging you to go into LE: I suspect the point of his encouragement was aimed at you wanting to have a direction in your life as an aid to treatment, and not directed at the focus of your direction. I suspect had you said you wanted to go to be an auto mechanic, he would've been just as encouraging. For him, it is that you are focused about something, anything, and that focus helps you in your treatment. Unless your psychiatrist also works for the PD or SO doing their psych evals, he or she likely has no idea the requirements and standards for a law enforcement position.

[john351]

GoDirectly2Jail: "Since the mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder is medication, are you currently on a maintenance medication regimen? Your statement "I've been treated" is ambiguous. What happens if you miss a dose?"

First of all, it's not as simple as "What happens if you miss a dose?" The medication builds a level. Forgetting to take a single does would not obstruct the medication's effectiveness.

Second of all, I don't take medication.......

And the reason I don't medication is because there is no need anymore. Why would I have to take medication for something I no longer am regarded as having?

[carlajake]

GoDirectly2Jail: "I offer no credentials other than my 'friend', who is a lawyer, so that must make me an expert on everything I say"

RE: Well, the 1-800 number is posted in my reply. You are welcome to dial that number and ask THEM questions if you do not approve of my "credentials". Of course, that would be too easy to do. Much easier in fact than just saying, "I'm right, you're wrong, and I know it"

GoDirectly2Jail: "Despite what the previous poster [carlajake] would lead you to believe, liability to the agency is not diminished by your successful treatment. They can (and may) say that for the past 11 years, you were seen for 7 of those years for bipolar disorder"

RE: Someone who passes the psychological evaluation demonstrates that he/she is not of a liability risk to the department. Let's get that clear.

Now if the department is worried about the applicant having a relapse, well that's a different story. But even that can be waived if the applicant can demonstrate that relapse is not a possibility.

Not giving the applicant a chance because of his/her history is NOT a valid reason for DQing an applicant if the applicant can demonstrate as such. I'm sure interviewing the applicants associates will reveal the applicant's success/fail rate.

So please call the number and stop accusing me of being unqualified or having "no credentials". If you do not feel like calling the number to talk to someone directly, you're welcome to visit the ADA's website and employment with disabilities.

Specifically quoted from the site: "An employer can refuse to hire you only if your disability poses a significant risk of substantial harm to you or others. If an employer has such concerns, he must seek appropriate information to assess the level of risk and the nature of the harm."

In which, if an applicant passes everything else in the psych eval, but only fails it because of their history, the employer might find it difficult to support their claim that the poster's disability would be a problem in this case.

[mcsap]

GoDirectly2Jail: "I offer no credentials other than my 'friend', who is a lawyer, so that must make me an expert on everything I say"

RE: Well, the 1-800 number is posted in my reply. You are welcome to dial that number and ask THEM questions if you do not approve of my "credentials". Of course, that would be too easy to do. Much easier in fact than just saying, "I'm right, you're wrong, and I know it"

GoDirectly2Jail: "Despite what the previous poster [carlajake] would lead you to believe, liability to the agency is not diminished by your successful treatment. They can (and may) say that for the past 11 years, you were seen for 7 of those years for bipolar disorder"

RE: Someone who passes the psychological evaluation demonstrates that he/she is not of a liability risk to the department. Let's get that clear.

Now if the department is worried about the applicant having a relapse, well that's a different story. But even that can be waived if the applicant can demonstrate that relapse is not a possibility.

Not giving the applicant a chance because of his/her history is NOT a valid reason for DQing an applicant if the applicant can demonstrate as such. I'm sure interviewing the applicants associates will reveal the applicant's success/fail rate.

So please call the number and stop accusing me of being unqualified or having "no credentials". If you do not feel like calling the number to talk to someone directly, you're welcome to visit the ADA's website and employment with disabilities.

Specifically quoted from the site: "An employer can refuse to hire you only if your disability poses a significant risk of substantial harm to you or others. If an employer has such concerns, he must seek appropriate information to assess the level of risk and the nature of the harm."

In which, if an applicant passes everything else in the psych eval, but only fails it because of their history, the employer might find it difficult to support their claim that the poster's disability would be a problem in this case.

So , Carla. Tell about yourself. Do you have any background or qualifications in hiring policies and practices ? Particularly in the Law Enforcement field ??

It is EASY to spout off 800 numbers and regurgitated info from the ADA and your lawyer friend but back to the original question...who are you and what experience , knowledge or education do you have to substantiate yourself ?

[carlajake]

mcsap: "So , Carla. Tell about yourself. Do you have any background or qualifications in hiring policies and practices ? Particularly in the Law Enforcement field ??

It is EASY to spout off 800 numbers and regurgitated info from the ADA and your lawyer friend but back to the original question...who are you and what experience , knowledge or education do you have to substantiate yourself ?"

RE: I am nothing more than a college student majoring in accounting. But that doesn't mean I don't know anything about hiring policies and practices. The information I give is accurate and I assure you of that. If you insist on not believing me, then you are welcome to call the 1-800 number for more information.

I'm not "spouting off" 1-800 numbers here, I'm simply providing information and attaching my source. It's something that college students learn to get good at. The long so-called "unqualified" and "uncredentialized" (as what the accusation is) is information and the 1-800 number is posted as a source for the reader should they have questions or concerns about the validity of the information.

I would post the link to the Americans with Disabilities Act website where I get my information from, but this forum apparently does not allow it.

Step by step directions there instead:

1) Go to you are correct in at least one thing , you havn't been here long enough to post links ( or try to)

2) Click on "Disabiltiy" under the section, "Discrimination by Type: Facts and Guidance

3) Look at the column on the left that says, "Need more information?"

4) Scroll down to Job Applicants and the ADA and click on the link.

5) To automatically scroll down to the information I quote, click on the link, "Being 'Qualified' for the Job"

MY DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility if someone who wishes to automatically disavow my information including (but not limited to) disregarding my sources and then is at a loss wanting more information or more sources, because they have the option of checking the validity (and sources) of that information, but refuse not to because of fear of having their misconceptionalizations challenged in a way that may show they are wrong.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

GoDirectly2Jail: "Since the mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder is medication, are you currently on a maintenance medication regimen? Your statement "I've been treated" is ambiguous. What happens if you miss a dose?"

First of all, it's not as simple as "What happens if you miss a dose?" The medication builds a level. Forgetting to take a single does would not obstruct the medication's effectiveness.

Second of all, I don't take medication.......

And the reason I don't medication is because there is no need anymore. Why would I have to take medication for something I no longer am regarded as having?

Accepted medical outlets state that there is no cure for bipolar disorder. If you received a diagnosis for that illness, (and if the diagnosis is accurate), then like it or not, you still have it. That is not me talking, that's the AMA, NAMI and several other reputable medical sources. If that's the case, perhaps your case is mild enough to not need medication? I'm genuinely curious...