Posted on Apr 8, 2022
A bill to allow recruits with previous mental health treatment is on the way
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In the vast majority of cases, young Americans hoping to join the military are barred from signing up if they’ve previously been treated for anxiety, depression or other mental health struggles. But there is some interest in changing that.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is working on a bill that would remove some of those barriers, he said Wednesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
“We’re telling young Americans, right now, if your dream is to be an Air Force pilot and you have depression as a 16-year-old girl, you either need to not go get help, or if you did go get help and you’re prescribed drugs and then you apply to be an Air Force pilot, you’ve got to lie,” he said.
This has particularly been an issue with children whose parents have served, a very common demographic for new recruits, as their medical records are easily pulled from the Defense Department’s own systems.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is working on a bill that would remove some of those barriers, he said Wednesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
“We’re telling young Americans, right now, if your dream is to be an Air Force pilot and you have depression as a 16-year-old girl, you either need to not go get help, or if you did go get help and you’re prescribed drugs and then you apply to be an Air Force pilot, you’ve got to lie,” he said.
This has particularly been an issue with children whose parents have served, a very common demographic for new recruits, as their medical records are easily pulled from the Defense Department’s own systems.
A bill to allow recruits with previous mental health treatment is on the way
Posted from armytimes.com
Mental Health
DoD
Behavioral Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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What ever happened to kids being taught to cope without pills and doctor visits??? Is this a result of liberal "participation awards" and kids never learning how to deal with losing or not getting their way?
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SFC Casey O'Mally
No, it isn't
Sometimes heavy shit happens. Getting help should not be punished.
If you break your leg when you are 15, but it heals up fine, you can join. If you break your brain when you are 15, but it heals up fine, you cannot.
Sometimes heavy shit happens. Getting help should not be punished.
If you break your leg when you are 15, but it heals up fine, you can join. If you break your brain when you are 15, but it heals up fine, you cannot.
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