Joining with mental health issues
Hey everyone! I’ve been wanting to join the military for a while now, but I have a history of mental health issues. Over a year ago, I was hospitalized for a suicide attempt, and had been prescribed numerous medications in the past. My last prescription date was in march of this year.
I thought when I walked into that office that I’d be told to pack it up and go home. I was completely honest with the recruiter when I got there, and they weren’t worried about it at all, since the hospitalization was over a year ago. I read a lot that they expect 12-36 months of being medication free, but in my experience my recruiter told me they were only looking for 3 months. Which I well exceed.
I aced my practice test, and we continued with pre screening and I’m scheduled for the PICAT and MEPs next week!!! They think I have a clear shot at getting in, we’ll see what happens at MEPs.
Along with those issues mentioned, I had a largely stretched septum piercing. I’ve taken the jewelry out and it’s shrunken up a bit, but still visible, and they told me that it was totally fine. I did have stretched earlobes, 00g, that have shrunken back down to normal size, and that’s fine as well.
So I wanted to say, if anyone is thinking about enlisting but worried about issues like these… TRY! Speak to a recruiter! You won’t know unless you try.