Am I required to disclose a history of depression?

[~mommyof2~]

I accepted a job offer at a hospital and while doing my paperwork, it asks if there is a history of depression. I suffered from situational depression as a teenager, dealt with it, and now have no problems. It has been over five years ago. I would prefer not to disclose because of the stigma associated with mental illness. Any thoughts?? Thanks!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I accepted a job offer at a hospital and while doing my paperwork, it asks if there is a history of depression. I suffered from situational depression as a teenager, dealt with it, and now have no problems. It has been over five years ago. I would prefer not to disclose because of the stigma associated with mental illness. Any thoughts?? Thanks!

It is none of your employer's business, especially since you have not suffered a recurrence of depression in over five years. Some here might argue with me on this point, but I maintain that our medical histories should be PRIVATE, and that we don't give up our right to have our personal health information protected under HIPAA when we become healthcare practitioners.

I hear you about the stigma of mental illness, even though I try every day to advocate for more sensible ways of dealing with it in the workplace. My last employer was not kind to me when my own illness escalated this past spring to the point where I could no longer function without accommodations......and even though the job was partly to blame for it, I was terminated.

My current employer knows about it only because I worked there a few years ago, and my boss is also one of my best friends; after what I went through with the other job, I would never have disclosed my condition again. Thankfully, they are open-minded and willing to accommodate me, and they accept me the way I am.

[~mommyof2~]

Thanks for the response! I agree that my health information should be private! I am not my medical record, and I would hate to be judge for something that happened so long ago, especially when I was pretty much a kid!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I think that "situational depression" actually wouldn't count.

[Marshall1]

None of their business.....period.

[~mommyof2~]

I agree it is none of their business. just trying to figure all this stuff out! i didn't know if i could NOT say anything. as i was reading thru the paperwork, it seemed like they are trying to figure out who would be more a liability more than anything. thank you guys so much for the input

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I am almost speechless. I've never seen a question about mental health on any application. It's nobody's business but yours.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Oy! for your to be speechless....I need to write this on the calendar...LOL. Truly, this, again points out, the BON is not our friend!

I am almost speechless. I've never seen a question about mental health on any application. It's nobody's business but yours.

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I think you're well within your rights to answer no. Firstly, not their business. Secondly situational depression isn't what they are most likely look.g for. They are probably looking for Major Depressive Disorder, which situational depression is not

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Wow! Even the military has a clause that exempts people if their depression was due to grief or was a transient issue of the past! Best of luck to you, OP.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

If this was paperwork from employee health, I would remind you that your actual employer won't see this info unless necessary. If, as you say, this was situational, you probably don't need to tell, but letting employee health know can actually be beneficial. If you end up in a relapse, it is already documented and no one thinks you were trying to hide anything

[LisalaRN99, BSN, RN]

I did not answer this question affirmatively, nor did I answer the question about substance abuse affirmatively. Nobody needs to know my personal business about being in recovery, if it was never, ever an issue in the work place!