Yet another question about background checks

[Tempus_Fugit]

This is in regards to a background check for a possible LEO:

I have a pretty good record with the law, the one thing that happened about four years ago was that I got pulled over and got a ticket for impeding traffic. The real thing i'm worried about is my mental health history. Considering I was diagnosed with depression/anxiety at around age 12 and began taking anti-depressants and I still do to this day i'm worried that no one will give me a chance. I am honestly a completely different person than I was before (i'm 21 now) and whether that is the drugs and me just growing up, or just growing up and changing i'm not too sure. Will it hurt my chances if they see that I have that kind of background, even if i'm doing better now? I don't see a therapist but I see a psychiatrist every 3 months or so to renew my medicine. I'm worried about this but i'm also thinking that because of how many people have or have had problems with depression and such that that would rule out a significant part of the population? Also, if this does effect my chances because I take the anti-depressants would it look better if I were to try and ease off of them (seeing as I don't plan on being on this medicine for the rest of my life either) before I apply?

Thanks for reading & I appreciate anything you can tell me :D

[retdetsgt]

It can cause you problems. Depression can be an occupational hazard and if you already have problems with it, that's not a good thing. A psychologist will have to make the determination, but if you still have to take them, I'd look at another career

[Tempus_Fugit]

Also, is anyone familiar with HIPPA Laws? I would hope that as long as I could function as a person w/o depression would on the police force, I don't understand how they are able to discriminate based on something in my past. I know of many officers that do become depressed and turn to alcohol, drugs, etc. So i'm just curious as to how many people on the force are depressed, but keep quiet?

[Citicop]

When you are hired to become a police officer, you sign a form giving the department access to your medical history and records.

You also take a psychological test as part of the hiring process. If they determine that you can do the job, then you get hired.

But if you are still taking prescription meds for depression, then this is not something that is "in your past." Even someone starting this career with NO history of psychological problems can develop them after working in the field for a while. You will be asking the department to gamble that your issues will not worsen once hired and exposed to what we deal with on a regular basis.

Will they? I have no idea. You will have to try and see what happens. But we owe you the honest truth, which is that you will be fighting an uphill battle to get hired.

And please don't forget that suitability for one specific career is not a personal judgment on you or your character. Some people just aren't cut out to be cops (even if they really, really want to be); just like some people who ARE cops aren't cut out to be plumbers, engineers, teachers, etc.

-Citicop.

[Tempus_Fugit]

I suppose I was always braced for the possibility of them ruling me out because of that. I just find it horrible that the things I actually can control such as being a good person, following the law, and graduating from college end up not mattering in the end. It's a case of a genetic "disability" if you will in this case, of which I have no control over. I honestly believe that if I can get off of the medication (which I plan on doing) and function "normally" - whatever that may be - I see no reason for them to discriminate based on something I had no control over. I could understand if I were doing SI to myself, threatening to kill myself, and a person who was "dead" on the outside. However it's not the case.

Thanks for your honest opinions, i'm not trying to be hostile, this topic is one that continues to upset me. I just wish that people would judge based on your character, rather than let an illness define a person.

[mcsap]

This is in regards to a background check for a possible LEO:

I have a pretty good record with the law, the one thing that happened about four years ago was that I got pulled over and got a ticket for impeding traffic.That kind of a ticket means LITTLE.l


The real thing i'm worried about is my mental health history. A very legitimate concern to us.Considering I was diagnosed with depression/anxiety at around age 12 and began taking anti-depressants and I still do to this day i'm worried that no one will give me a chance.

Your mental status has existed frmo age 12 into adulthood and you are STILL on medication for it. That CONCERNS me. I am not a doctor but your background is aof great concern to me. As a police officer you will be faced with GREAT stress as you are involuntarily being inserted into other peoples lives. People dont call 911 because they are having a great day. They ar ecalling because their world is falling apart and they want YOU to fix it.

This isn't the best place for someone with a gun , the powers of arrest etc. who also is on meds for depression.

I have had to deal with many depressing issues. Dead people , dead kids , parents who BEAT their kids, men who BEAT their wives, drunks and drug addicts who would sell their soul for a drink or a fix.

I don't know you but the question is..." why should we take a RISK on someone who has mental issues when their are plenty that don't ? "

We will spend many thousands of dollars training you and preparing you for a job that has a LOT of power. We do NOT like being in the position of tkaing risks when we do this. Risky " investments " can cost us a LOT of money and time.



I am honestly a completely different person than I was before (i'm 21 now) and whether that is the drugs and me just growing up, or just growing up and changing i'm not too sure. Will it hurt my chances if they see that I have that kind of background, even if i'm doing better now? I don't see a therapist but I see a psychiatrist every 3 months or so to renew my medicine. I'm worried about this but i'm also thinking that because of how many people have or have had problems with depression and such that that would rule out a significant part of the population? Also, if this does effect my chances because I take the anti-depressants would it look better if I were to try and ease off of them (seeing as I don't plan on being on this medicine for the rest of my life either) before I apply?

Thanks for reading & I appreciate anything you can tell me :D

IMHO ( and non-medical ) opinion , you need to get off of and be able to stay off of the meds for a couple of years and be approved by a doctor of our choosing that you are suited for police work. While your meds are prescribed , you are nonetheless dependant on the drugs to get you through the day. And that increases the risk that I mentioned above.

[Tempus_Fugit]

OK, well thank you for your honest opinions. Perhaps my second career option will suit me more

[Citicop]

OK, well thank you for your honest opinions. Perhaps my second career option will suit me more

For the record, no one said, "Don't bother applying." You may pass the psych with no problems. We just want you to have a backup plan ready if this doesn't work out due to the medical issue.

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

The problem is where you take meds to maintain normalcy, any department that hires you is betting that you will continue to voluntarily take them.

I'm familiar with depression and anti-depressants, I had to take them for several years after I retired. W/o them, I was liable to grab the kid who got my order wrong at McDonald's by the neck and drag him across the counter. With the meds, I was my usual, sweet, lovable self. Your situation may not be that extreme, but it puts the agency at risk because they are responsible for your behavior.

Good luck in whatever endeavor you go for.

[Tempus_Fugit]

For the record, no one said, "Don't bother applying." You may pass the psych with no problems. We just want you to have a backup plan ready if this doesn't work out due to the medical issue.

-Citicop.

No, I completely understand that. I would never just "give up" but I do completely understand the way people view others with illnesses and I believe our society hasn't advanced in that aspect as much as it should have - but that's just the way it is. I definitely do have a backup plan, because I was kind of planning for something bad to happen, because you never know! I am thinking of being an animal control officer as well. But first things first, I have to fix my life and figure out what is going to go on with these medicines, etc. I believe I could do well without them, it's just that i've been on them for so long and i've never tried or expressed any interest to get off of them, i'm so frightened. I've just realized how much more I have left to figure out.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Tempus_Fugit]

The problem is where you take meds to maintain normalcy, any department that hires you is betting that you will continue to voluntarily take them.

I'm familiar with depression and anti-depressants, I had to take them for several years after I retired. W/o them, I was liable to grab the kid who got my order wrong at McDonald's by the neck and drag him across the counter. With the meds, I was my usual, sweet, lovable self. Your situation may not be that extreme, but it puts the agency at risk because they are responsible for your behavior.

Good luck in whatever endeavor you go for.

Thanks. I do understand how that affects the department. I'm glad I joined this community because it has given me a lot of things to think about before I'm ready to even apply for a job like being a police officer. TBH my depression (from what I can remember of it) when I was 12 was more internal. I kind of felt more dead, than I externalized any of my anger. However, like you said in your case, I have no idea how I will behave when I do come off of them. I'm worried because I don't want to revert back to how it used to be, but I will never know if I don't try. And I can't hide behind them for the rest of my life, like i've been doing. Maybe over the past 10 years something has changed? I don't know. We'll see....

Thanks for your help!