anti-depressants/Police regulations

[jakflak]

Okay well just because you have been diagnosed with depression, does not mean you are mentally unstable, being there are many different types/levels of depression.

Yes, that's true. However, the fact remains that if someone is diagnosed with depression and on anti-depressants for it, they won't be hired as a police officer. It sucks, but it's true.

I didn't say that because someone is on anti-depressants they are mentally unstable. I'm on anti-depressants, but not for depression (I take them for migraines). However, if I were on them for depression, I would likely not be working as a cop.

I've been turned down by other agencies in the past because of the anti-depressants, even though they knew they weren't for depression. Some places just won't touch you if you take them for any reason.

However, I don't know of any department that will knowingly hire someone on anti-depressants for depression.

Okay well just because you have been diagnosed with depression, does not mean you are mentally unstable, being there are many different types/levels of depression.

[jakflak]

Yes but just because you are on an anti depressant doesn't mean you're 'mentally unstable'. Those are generally the folks that get put in special places for their needs...On the topic..What happens to the current officers who are on anti depressants (i do know a few)

I didn't say that because someone is on anti-depressants they are mentally unstable. I'm on anti-depressants, but not for depression (I take them for migraines). However, if I were on them for depression, I would likely not be working as a cop.

I've been turned down by other agencies in the past because of the anti-depressants, even though they knew they weren't for depression. Some places just won't touch you if you take them for any reason.

However, I don't know of any department that will knowingly hire someone on anti-depressants for depression.

[mach4]

In the department I was with if you were on anti-depressants when you applied it was a DQ. They figure if you have a hard time coping with life when your not an officer you won't be able to handle the stress of being an officer. There are officers, who after they've been on the job, were on anti-depressants for stress and other reasons. I know of some females that can't be on hormone replacement that are put on anti-depressants. In some departments it matters and others it doesn't. If your on them and want to get into LE then just keep applying to different departments until you find one that doesn't care.

Cops and departments get sued all the time. Medical records are part of the employment application, and they can be subpoenaed. Departments who have hired mentally unstable officers have been sucessfully sued.

Yes but just because you are on an anti depressant doesn't mean you're 'mentally unstable'. Those are generally the folks that get put in special places for their needs...On the topic..What happens to the current officers who are on anti depressants (i do know a few)

[jakflak]

Lawsuit from whom? And how would they(person filing the suit) obtain the officer's medical records, since it isn't public property?

Cops and departments get sued all the time. Medical records are part of the employment application, and they can be subpoenaed. Departments who have hired mentally unstable officers have been sucessfully sued.

Statistically they aren't as mentally stable. This is why most departments will weed them out with the psychiatrist. Law enforcement is extremely competive.

If that Officer were involved in a lawsuit it would be difficult for a department to defend why they hired this person. I sure wouldn't want to be the attorney defending the department why they hired this person.

Lawsuit from whom? And how would they(person filing the suit) obtain the officer's medical records, since it isn't public property?

[e-man]

Dont know if this is the kind of reply you want BUT this is a free country Anti-depressants are also now more commonly prescribed fore more than one thing i.e. being DEPRESSED they are I guess now called multi use drugs. I was on an Anti-depress. for sinus infections. It didnt do the trick for my headaches but boy I loved them happy pills for the month.

[USAcop]

Now because one has depression does not mean they cannot handle stress. For some yes for others no. I was in the military with having being diagnosed with depression and I never got stressed out. While i'd see other 'normal' and 'healthy' individuals try to commit suicide every other day because they 'couldn't take it'.

Statistically they aren't as mentally stable. This is why most departments will weed them out with the psychiatrist. Law enforcement is extremely competive.

If that Officer were involved in a lawsuit it would be difficult for a department to defend why they hired this person. I sure wouldn't want to be the attorney defending the department why they hired this person.

Law enforcement can be a very stressful occupation. This is especially true when you go into law enforcement.

If you already have problems handling stress in the civilian world how do you think you would react in the law enforcement world?

You have to react quickly and correctly.

If you vapor lock out there a citizen or officer may be seriously injured or killed.

Now because one has depression does not mean they cannot handle stress. For some yes for others no. I was in the military with having being diagnosed with depression and I never got stressed out. While i'd see other 'normal' and 'healthy' individuals try to commit suicide every other day because they 'couldn't take it'.

[USAcop]

I'm not in LE,but,Cops are human.and millions of Americans take anti depressants.I don't see why this should be a problem

Law enforcement can be a very stressful occupation. This is especially true when you go into law enforcement.

If you already have problems handling stress in the civilian world how do you think you would react in the law enforcement world?

You have to react quickly and correctly.

If you vapor lock out there a citizen or officer may be seriously injured or killed.

I know what you mean, but keep in mind Law Enforcement is a very mentally tough job to begin with. It has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. A department hiring someone who already suffers from depression is taking a huge risk. If they're just living their normal life and they're depressed, how are they going to cope with the stress of being a cop?

Well for me..I've been on anti depressants for a while. Took myself off of them for 1.5 years. Not that I was 'depressed with life'. But I'd just feel down when I wasn't on them after a while. Sort of like the blues, only they're constant. Never was suicidal or ever seriously considered it, or anything that severe. When I put myself back on it, it just basically elevated my mood is all. It's not that I couldn't handle life.

[jakflak]

I'm not in LE,but,Cops are human.and millions of Americans take anti depressants.I don't see why this should be a problem

I know what you mean, but keep in mind Law Enforcement is a very mentally tough job to begin with. It has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. A department hiring someone who already suffers from depression is taking a huge risk. If they're just living their normal life and they're depressed, how are they going to cope with the stress of being a cop?

[Bklngirl]

I'm not in LE,but,Cops are human.and millions of Americans take anti depressants.I don't see why this should be a problem

[jakflak]

You'll have to answer the question on the polygraph whether or not you're on (or have been on in the past) anti-depressants. It's not an automatic disqualifier for all departments, but it is an auto DQ for most departments.