Will a history of Suicide ideation automatically disqualify you from joining the Army

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.

I was wondering if an old Hx of SI or Suicide gesture (7 years old) will automatically disqualify you from joining the military. I am perfectly fine now, will they send me for a psych eval before being automatically disquafied? I want be part of the nurses corp and it will be devastating if I dont make it due to silly past decisioins. Thanks.

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People successfully keep information like this to themselves and are able to do what they desire. If your mental health is sound at the time you want to enter, there is no problem. But it is up to you whether or not you want to make an issue of this.

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my recruiter told me that they don't know what i don't tell them so as long as i have the same story at meps as i do on his papers so he doesn't get into trouble then it wouldn't be an issue- this wasn't related to suicide ideation but i would assume the same principle would apply.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Did you make an attempt or just thought about it? If you did make a attempt it will be harder to get in but depending on your age at the time and what treatment you had after will make the difference. Good luck.

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Between this thread and this one: https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/army-nurse-corps-427681.html#post3889032, you should either not say anything at all or you should rethink your desire to serve. Your threads show lifelong mental health issues and it would be a very long process to access, if they allowed you to at all.

The military is a very stressful place and given the current focus put upon mental health of vets and the overwhelming supply of nurses wanting to join, it would be very hard to convince the military to access someone who has already had the mental health issues you've posted about.

Just my :twocents:

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

One word of caution regarding "keeping things to yourself."

If it's later discovered for some reason, you'll be in very, VERY big trouble for having withheld the information.

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Some things are better left unsaid. . .:twocents:

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
Between this thread and this one: https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/army-nurse-corps-427681.html#post3889032, you should either not say anything at all or you should rethink your desire to serve. Your threads show lifelong mental health issues and it would be a very long process to access, if they allowed you to at all.

The military is a very stressful place and given the current focus put upon mental health of vets and the overwhelming supply of nurses wanting to join, it would be very hard to convince the military to access someone who has already had the mental health issues you've posted about.

Just my :twocents:

I agree with this post the military can be very stressful, lonely at times and if you already have issues with depression this can only compound the issue. Why did you not want to get a reference from your current employer as in the post linked above?

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.
People successfully keep information like this to themselves and are able to do what they desire. If your mental health is sound at the time you want to enter, there is no problem. But it is up to you whether or not you want to make an issue of this.

I don't feel confortable withholding information from the goverment. Won't do. Thanks anyways.

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.
Between this thread and this one: https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/army-nurse-corps-427681.html#post3889032, you should either not say anything at all or you should rethink your desire to serve. Your threads show lifelong mental health issues and it would be a very long process to access, if they allowed you to at all.

The military is a very stressful place and given the current focus put upon mental health of vets and the overwhelming supply of nurses wanting to join, it would be very hard to convince the military to access someone who has already had the mental health issues you've posted about.

Just my :twocents:

Quoting myself:"About 6 years ago I was hospitalized for depression. Since then I have not needed any further interventions." I am still wondering how you came with the conclusion that "Your threads show lifelong mental health issues ". Both threats refer to the same time of depression. I decided to post a second thread about it because with the first I only had an answer or 2. Regarding maybe not sayoing anything at all, for me that is not an option. I like honesty. Thanks.

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.
I agree with this post the military can be very stressful, lonely at times and if you already have issues with depression this can only compound the issue. Why did you not want to get a reference from your current employer as in the post linked above?

I never said or even implied that I don't want to get a letter of reference for my current employer. I wanted to know exactly from who should I get references from. When I asked about the references being from current or past employers, I meant: I am not working now, can they be from previous employers? Thanks.

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.
I was wondering if an old Hx of SI or Suicide gesture (7 years old) will automatically disqualify you from joining the military. I am perfectly fine now, will they send me for a psych eval before being automatically disquafied? I want be part of the nurses corp and it will be devastating if I dont make it due to silly past decisioins. Thanks.

Thanks everyone for taking time to answer my question. Regarding withholding information at MEPS, I will not do it. I rather no qualify for the Army than later being dishonorably discharge. Thanks.

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