Applying to the military involves disclosing medical, including mental health, history. Civilian mental health providers may be uncomfortable with these disclosures. Providers may not need to supply all of a patient's records and many psychiatric conditions can be waived when certain conditions are met.
Trained healthcare personnel may determine if the Service member requires further evaluation or health education and contact the Service member. The MHAs consist of a two-stage self-report assessment using validated tools to assess alcohol use, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms.
The Mental Health Assessments (DHA4 and DHA5) are a series of deployment health screenings designed to identify mental health concerns, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other behavioral health conditions that may require referral for additional care and treatment.
According to the Department of Defense, you're disqualified from serving in the U.S. military if you have a current diagnosis or a history of most mental disorders. The presence of any disorder with psychotic features, such as schizophrenia or a delusional disorder, does not allow one to serve.
In the military's scheme of things, serious disorders such as major depression, anxiety or schizophrenia may be grounds for medical discharge or retirement, usually depending on their severity and amenability to treatment.
Antidepressants are disqualifying for one year after you stop taking them. You must stop with your doctor's advice; do not stop on your own. These medications often have to be reduced slowly to lower side effects and reduce risk of relapse.
Having a previously diagnosed mental health condition such as depression can actually be a disqualifying factor for service in the United States military, though individuals may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“Whilst there are some mental health histories that will almost always preclude entry to the ADF, where there is evidence that a candidate has received treatment and subsequently shown effective functioning in their life, a psychologist may determine that they are suitable to join the ADF,” the spokesperson said.
Although services can accept applicant waivers with less stringent restrictions (e.g., the Air Force will consider waivers for recruits stable off medications for 15 months), ADHD diagnosis is consistently a common disqualifier for military service.
Your eligibility to join the Army as an enlisted Soldier is evaluated at MEPS during a series of screenings and tests. These evaluations determine if you meet the physical, mental, and moral standards set by the Army.
This is called a Medical Discharge and it will show up on your discharge papers. If the doctor/psychiatrist/Medical Board believes you do not have a mental health problem, but thinks you are not the right sort of person for the army, they can recommend you be discharged as 'temperamentally unsuited to Service life'.
Currently, only three mental health accession tools are used to screen applicants before their entrance into military service, namely, educational achievement, cognitive testing, and a cursory psychiatric evaluation. The Navy and Air Force use a fourth screening measure during entry-level training.
According to the U.S. Air Force Medical Standards Directory, Autism Spectrum Disorder is not disqualifying for continued military service unless it is currently--or has a history of--compromising military duty or training.
Military personnel who develop asthma while on duty will be discharged. According to the military's Medical Standards for Retention, the armed forces will only not retain a person if their condition persists even with treatment and hinders them from adequately performing their duties.
Key messages. Thirty-eight per cent of veterans had a code on their medical record for a common mental health disorder. The highest disorder prevalence was depression at 18%, followed by alcohol misuse at 17%, anxiety 15%, post-traumatic stress disorder was 3% and dementia 2%.
Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (aka PTSD, an anxiety disorder that follows experiencing a traumatic event) are the most common mental health problems faced by returning troops.
Medical conditions, criminal history, age, physical fitness, and drug abuse can all disqualify you from joining the Army. Other disqualifying factors include failing to meet minimum educational requirements, having a dishonorable discharge from the military, or having a record of mental illness.
The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected. The height limits are standard, and anyone within this height range can get accepted as long as their weight corresponds to the correct weight limit.
The ADF needs to ensure it selects individuals who can safely complete military training and serve anywhere in the world without suffering further injury or harm. To do this, a full medical check is needed as part of the application process.
Apart from age and educational qualifications, the military outlines medical standards for enlistment and appointment, including an extensive list of physical, mental, and behavioral conditions that could disqualify an otherwise exceptional candidate. ADHD is classified as one of those restricted conditions.
Antidepressant medications are commonly prescribed and generally do not limit deployability.
The military branches work to support service members during the situational depression, so it is unlikely to lead to a discharge. However, if symptoms persist for more than a year, an evaluation is likely.
Depression and the Military
In regards to the United States military, depression is a disqualifying mood disorder, according to the team at Verywell Mind. Your depression may disqualify you from service if you have had symptoms or treatment within the past 36 months (3 years).
The most common reason for medical discharge is physical injuries. However, you may also receive a medical discharge over mental health concerns like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can apply for VA compensation for medical issues that are service-connected.