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. Treatment will not make you unable to get a job in your field. Depression is not a crime and treating it is not a crime either. Get help for it and get on with your life.
2. Getting the help you need will not prevent you from getting a job. Rather the opposite -- if you *don't* get the help you need, you may find yourself unable to *keep* the job. Your privacy rights are protected by federal law. Your employer will not be able to find out about your mental or physical health history, and they are not allowed to ask. The only way they would know is if you tell them. Go get the help you need, then go get that job. You can do it! Good luck.
3. I have a friend who had similar problems and was prevented from being deployed, mainly because the Navy was worried about how he would handle a combat situation. He went back to his psychiatrist and worked with him to get the right medication for his depression. After a few months, he got a clean bill of health and was deployed. You can't hide what has happened. Be honest and upfront. They will work with you to address the problem. Don't ever give up or be ashamed over it.
4. Most law enforcement agencies require psych tests after your interview. Any issues you've had from your past will come up there is no hiding it. That's not a bad thing. The people on the interview board want to hear you own your diagnosis and tell them that you have had some trouble in the past but you didn't hesitate to seek help when you needed it. They will respect that. What will scare them is if it shows up on your psych test but you insist that "every thing is fine" and you don't need help. They don't want some one that is going to bottle it up and break down. If you are responsible in taking care of your self that will look good in your favor. That being said. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you love working in what ever part of criminology you want. But be forewarned (from my own personal experience) this is a very emotionally stressful field and I have seen it really hurt some good people. Make sure you talk to your Doc any time you feel things bothering you once you are in the field. don't bottle it up, especially if you have thing that already know need some attention.
5. there is no way you can be fired due to your mental status and as the previous person stated you can only be reprimanded if you dont take action, but they still cannot fire you for this. More than anything they need to support and encourage you to get better. Psychiatric disabilities are the second most frequently cited disability in administrative charges filed under the employment provisions of the ADA. You are protected by the ADA.
6. if you go see a medical doctor . you can be sure that the doctor will not metion what is up with you at all . now if your going to harm yourself or someone else or you are unable to care for yourself then you would be put in hospitail mostl likely anyway . that the background check might show. you should go to the doctor and discuss the privacy matter before you get into things with him .