Fema Employment

Will seeking help from a mental health professional make me unable to get a job in my field?

I'm getting ready to graduate college with a 4yr degree in Criminology. I'm also a SGT in the US Army reserves. When I was 17 I was diagnosed with depression, but with treatment I became better. Its been 5 years since I've had treatment and I've been okay until about 1.5 years ago my symptoms came back with a vengeance. Its been up and down ever since. I have been putting off seeing anyone for help because I am afraid it will stigmatize me and make me an undesirable applicant for jobs or for promotion when I admit I have received treatment. I can't just lie about it, my treatment would come out in my background checks and I would have to explain why I was taking certain meds. I know I need help. It’s getting difficult for me to do anything, let alone live my life. But if I get the help I need, will I be unable to get jobs with the federal government, state police, or other organizations because of my depression? Will I be unable to go overseas if my unit deploys? What should I do?

Public Comments

1. Sorry, I'm not sure about the Federal Gov't, but I've never had to list any medications on any employment applications. The background checks are really more for credit history, criminal history, etc. However, if you are probably trying to get in the FBI, CIA, or other DHS branch, then you will probably be asked about your medical history. I also believe that you have to undergo psychological tests. Be honest and best of luck. Thanks for your service in the Armed Forces!
2. Depression affects many people and is nothing to be ashamed of. The military won't punish you for it and in fact you should qualify for some help from the military. Good luck.
3. as far as getting a job goes- you do not need to worry. unless you are working in a high-security field, your status cannot be traced. there are laws governing that. your military career may be a different issue. depending on the degree of depression, type of med, and current stability, you may still be deployable. just a thought- bravo to you for being in the reserves!! and for being willing to deploy. but if you DON'T get treatment, and are deployed, are you then the kind of soldier you want watching your back? not insult intended here at all, but you need to be your best in a bad situation and that is not possible without treatment. believe me, you are not the only soldier with depression issues. i have 4 military kids who have all been to iraq/afghanistan at least once each- some twice. ptsd and depression are not factors that keep you from being deployed if its being treated. sorry to run on so long. you sound like a motivated, successful person. do the best thing for yourself. good luck
4. From my experience, your mental health problems will be a hindrance if for some reason the Army decides to medically retire you. Outside of that, if you are responsible and do not abuse any medications or give the impression of malingering, you should be fine. As for deploying overseas, that could simply be a matter of a doctor asking you if you feel like you can make it (like what happened with me), your command could have you stay back, go with them regardless and try to work on the situation where you deploy, call for a fitness review, or any number of other things. The point is that seeing a doctor for a health problem is not an immediate disqualifying factor. See the doc now and start getting back in your game.
5. You should see a psychiatrist again. Depression is a medical condition that can affect certain types of employment. However, the Americans with Disabilities Act provides protection against employment discrimination. Your condition left untreated could jeopardize your career management immensely. Depression is the number 1 treated condition along with anxiety by even family doctors. I recommend a psychiatrist because of their more extensive specialty training. You may have a mood disorder (bi-polar) that is serious but very treatable. Unfortunately, some positions and background checks could rule out employment but generally speaking, most people with any emotional or mental conditions are very productive and have very successful careers.
6. Actually your problem is quite common and getting the help you need does not affect any job opportunities as they well see you have acknowleged the situation and done something about it. This is a medical problem and many people including a friend of mine that is a nuclear engineer in the air force, has had to take zoloff and some other medication, for anger management and anxiety! Now she is on Xango with has completety taken her off all meds and she has no more problems. YOU are not alone, so get the help you need. Now if you would like a natural juice that would pretty much completely do away with all mental disease, try Xango! Mangosteen has xantones and antioxidents that completely control these problems, as it rids you of mental disease because it can help you to naturally balance your body to fight off the chemical imbalance! Actually mental pharmacy companies hate xango and it has reduced their sales by millions of dollars per year!
7. I am not sure that it would effect you. Not getting help may be more harmful to you getting a job as people will notice. If you get help, I would think, it shows that you have it under control or are working to do so and can regonize a problem and take care of it as opposed to ignoring it. when they do the background checks and this shows up, and if they ask You will have the op. to explain to them why and tell them it is something that is under control. Alot of people in the US are diagnosed with mental problems, I live with two of them! Like I said ignoring will only make things difficult for you and those around you and it isn't healthy to just leave it be. If you have a history of it and have had help in the past it will show up anyway. I don't know much about gov. jobs but I would think that they are looking into your background more or less for a criminal record and how you did at past jobs. Seeing how you were in the army reserves it looks good on you and that you are going to be a graduate, especially if you did really well, should over shadow the illness showing that you are a functioning person despite that. I am sure you can also talk to some people who already have a job in the feild you are looking at and ask them to get info on it from the boss or to ask their boss without mentioning any names or something to see what the stand is on it. You can also do research online that may help. I can't stress enough how important it is to get the help you need.. it is a far greater risk to NOT to get help then to get it.
8. There are laws that protect people against discrimination in employment. As well, you are not expected to disclose this information, and there is no way anyone should be able to get their hands on it--it is confidential. You may, however, have to make a decision about whether the type of work you are pursuing is going to affect your mental health. If not, then go for it. Otherwise, you may choose another avenue in the same line of work, or different kind of work altogether. Your counsellor and/or psychiatrist should be able to assist you with this.