Mental Health Question

[dianellen]

My step daughter called and left a message last night that she is joining the National Guard and they are going to pay off her college loans! We were quite surprised (shockled)....she has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and has been under the care of a mental facility for the past 10 years although she now is living in an apartment. She was kicked out of the group home for fighting. She is in and out of mental hospitals every few weeks/ months. She taked 1000 mg of Depicote a day to control her anxiety attacks. She is 26 years old and has never held a job. She lives of SSI. She said she is stopping her medication and joining NG. Will they trake her? She must be lieing to them. Do they do a medical background check? She lives in upstate NY NW of Albany. :confused:

[Samber]

Wow! With that kind of a background, I really doubt it. But they do offer waivers. They do ask you those questions and they do check your medical background.

[CavScout]

Umm the chances of that happening are not even distinguishable.

[youngin211]

If for any reason you feel you have to seek help professionaly for mental health, does that automaticly disqualify you from the guard? I've already signed my contract, but have not went to basic training yet. I REALLY want to stay in the guard, but know that this is going to be a major problem if I seek help. Does anyone know what will happen if I do have to seek help? Any help is appreciated.

[andrew.tischner]

Most mental health problems are a disqualifier that would require medical documents from the mental health provider and or a consult from a military doctor ( or a civilian doctor that is recomended by MEPS) If you think you need help consult a doctor and your recruiter before you proceed, just to give him a heads up to what to expect, dont blind side him keep him up to date and take care of what you need to get done

[AmericanWarrior20]

Well for me the mental health issue ***** because i got permanently disqualified from the army when i was at meps well i went to see a consult doctor that they had me see which ****** cause he also heard me what sounded like grunts and all i did was say hmph which is what i do when i agree and say when i'm talking to people the doctor at the meps first said i had it back in march which i thought was bogus because all the doctors and friends and my family would have said something and i do that all the time, while around them too and i do notice it the doctors said i have tourettes thats what i think is bogus and it ***** because all i wanted to be was in the army so now i'm trying the national guard to see if i can get a waiver, now i called my recruiter on the phone after i got the letter in the mail and got another recruiter there saying i already did the waiver option which i don't see how that can be when i had just got permantly disqualified so can someone help me out or something i'm also talking to a recruiter's assiantent that talked to her boss so yeah if anyone can help that'd be great
i posted this on here because i saw the topic and was like hey thats what i'm dealing with to so yeah

[ericneifert]

I'm proir service active duty, getting ready to graduate with a master's degree in Counseling Psychology, and getting ready to go in the guard as an 11B for a part time job while I finish up school. (1 more year!) As long as you don't have a major psychological and/or psychiatric disorder that would keep you from performing your job, you should be OK. They're nothing wrong or no shame in seeking help or counseling, that's why the Army has Mental Health clinics. Depression and Post tramautic stress are widespread throughout the services. In November 2001 my father passed away, and I sought help from a counselor due to my grief. I'm not ashamed of it in any way. I learned skills to cope with my grief, and went forward with my life. As a counseling student, we are encouraged to seek individual therapy, if not for antthing but the experience of how it feels to be the reciepient of therapy. The important thing is to be honest with yourself and your recruiter. Ask yourself: "Is my problem or issue one that would affect my job performance, or the saftey and security of those in my unit?" Keep in mind military service is a team effort, and others depend on you being at your best. Good luck with everything.

Eric Neifert, B.S.