[22M]I was recently rejected from the British Army for "Recurring Depression Requiring Treatment/Input 4.L.17". My history is as follows (all according to what is stated in my GP medical records:
3rd Feb 2017 (12 years old): Thoughts of deliberate self harm.
22nd March 2017 (13 years old): Attended CAMHS due to parental divorce. Thoughts of deliberate self harm. No suicidal thoughts.
23rd Jan 2024 (19 years old): struggles to be happy, has low thoughts, sometimes has suicidal thoughts but would never act on them. has felt above for maybe 2 years, but now wants to get help before gets worse. (not in notes but this was due to work and family stresses)
15th Jan 2026 (21 years old): Feeling depressed, angry and guilty in the last few months to one year. Was very busy in xmas as amazon driver but in the last few weeks as she is working less he has noticed his mood has become more sad and occasionally feeling deeply displeased with himself Has some financial stress as no much jobs from amazon this period Often tooo busy and does not eat a balance diet Sleep also is poor - Lives in a council flat- lots of noise from neighbours moving around. sleep always interrupted. spoken to council about the noise but they repplied they can't do much to help this time Has had times he thought about "what is the point being alive" (this is being reviewed for a context note to state this wasnt said as suicidal ideation but a term of frustraion about how things dont seem to go his way) but does not have any active plans to self harm or commit suicide. No hx of self harm Says he does not smoke or do drugs. Quit alcohol almost 2 years ago following losing hisjob after he had an exchange with a colleague in the work place and pushed them. Says he is some one who gets eaily angry and hot tempered. (this is meant to say says he is NOT someone who gets easily angry, also being reviewed by my GP) Trying to control his feelings since loosing his job. Not thinking of hurting anyone Currently has a girlfriend (who has a son) - often they argue but not anything serious. Has guilt as not having enough money to be of help to himself and his partner Today felt really unmotivated as did not have any work or deliveries to make today. Kept on wanting to get up from bed but did not see the need Has been separated from his usual friends in the last 1 year or so but very close with his brother who lives nearby and can tell him stuff. Brother has struggled with mental health issues in the past due to loss of a olved one Has past hx of MH issues and seen by CAMHs when he was young. Asking GP if what he is going through is normal or if he is just over reacting
Now I am aware that for the foreseeable future, there is no hope of me getting my appeal accepted (although I'm appealing regardless and speaking to my GP about a potential medical report to say that they are individual moments of stress rather than recurring but I doubt that will work, never say never), however would I be permanently unable to join the Armed Forces, or is there any path to becoming medically fit? I have never been medicated or seen a therapist/psychologist other than CAMHS as a child, so I hope that maybe with enough time elapsed with no symptoms I could be seen as medically fit. I've never had any actual thoughts of harming myself, i think it was all said during stressful moments as a way to be seen sooner, however i realise in hindsight it was an awful decision. I just hope that my past doesnt mean i can never join the army, which has been my dream since young.
Apologies for the very long message, I just hope someone has experience in this and can help me out. Would be gutted if I can never join.
u/TheRealOculyss — 6 months ago