H2y,<P>I know you are seeking employment in Law Enforcement, and you seem to have been in this line of work in the past so I thought I'd ask you and any one else that migh be familiar with this. <P>My situation is I have been really down lately. It's hard to admit, but I would say I am just about right at full fledged depressed and I am planning to get some medication to help me. I have talked this over with only a couple of people, my W and my parents. Well, my problem is I am currently trying to get on with the Sheriff's Office and I don't know how these types of drugs will affect my chances.<P>I am currently employed in Law Enforcement and I chose not to talk to any of the other officers I work with about this question. They tend to tell others and it can cause them to lose trust in me (The old, "I'll back him up, but I don't trust him to back me up cause his mind isn't in the job right now" and bla bla bla. I have told some of the guys I work with, that are close and I trust, about this A thing but I don't dare let on that it's effecting me this way, if you know what I mean. <P>I also wanted to add, I plan to take these drugs either way, I was just thinking of telling the SO that I can't go through the rest of the process if this will effect my chances. My health is more important than the job. <BR>Any help or suggestions? Anyone?

SEM,<P>I think your question has real validity. In some professions one has to proceed carefully with depression/antidepressant issues.<P>I am not in law enforcement. I am a public school teacher.<BR>Although there has been tremendous progress in public awareness of depression as a real biological disorder, many people cling to old misconceptions. I do not mention my clinical depression to anyone at work, even my close co-workers. Just don't want to risk negative fallout from people who don't understand. BTW, antidepressant medications can work wonders, and the newer ones have few side effects. I don't have any side effects and feel - and am - perfectly normal. People would never guess that I need antidepressants. (I will always need the meds as this chemical imbalance runs in my family. I'm fine on medication, awful without.)<P>As to your specific situation, absolutely see a physician who is experienced with treating depression. People I know who have had problems with their meds were seeing family practitioners, not psychiatrists. My DIL was being treated ineffectvely by her family doctor who had her on too low a dose. She decided to solve her unhappiness problem by initiating an affair, taking my grandson away from his daddy, and moving to another state. Her current doctor has tripled her dosage, and she is slowly coming out of the fog.<P>I suggest that you discreetly check the Sheriff's Office policy manual to see if there is anything about antidepressant meds. You might also check the emotional health benefits section for the department to see what their attitude is. Anonymously call the benefits people and ask what the policy is. Most organizations are more enlightened these days even providing confidential help in this area.<P>As you said, your health is foremost. The new job can come later, if necessary, when your depression is in remission. If you feel the need to keep your treatment private, you might have to foot the bill yourself and not file on your health insurance. Let's hope that won't be necessary.<P>It's strange, isn't it. If you apply for the new job and get it (foregoing medication if it would cost you the job), the Sheriff's Office would have an employee whose efficiency is deminished because of the depression. However, if you get treatment for the depression and can function normally and efficiently because the antidepressants work, you might not get the job. Go figure!<P>Go get that medication, SEM. It will work wonders for you.<BR>Hope your SO is an enlightened one. Good luck.

Estes,<P>Thanks for your response, I do plan to get the meds. I was just wandering whether I should stop my involvement in the hiring process so as to not diqualify myself from being hired now, and if that happens I probably won't have a chance in the future.<P>The Department I work for now doesn't know nor will know about the meds, at least I hope. My W has much better insurance so we went with hers, which is a good thing, because if she takes any meds it wont effect her employment.<P>I will consider calling and asking w/o telling them who I am, I am just concerned it will come up in the psych, or poly graph. I probably shouldn't even worry, My parents are the ones encouraging me to hold of on any meds until after the whole hiring process.<P>I was thinking of trying Wellbutrin (zyban), I used that in the past to quit smoking, well, I started up again and I could explain that I'm using them for that reason. Just a thought, I don't know how well that works for depression, but I've heard that's what it's origional intent was.<P>Thanks again, Estes.

I'm not sure how it affects law enforcement, as 'government' jobs sometimes have their own rules...but for most you are covered under the same IDEA laws that our students are...<P>IF you have a disability that affects your ability to learn or perform your job YOU CANNOT lose your job over it...You can request a 504 plan...just like students can...basically it is an individual employment plan which allows certain accomodations dependent upon your disability...<P>I know that we have had a couple of teachers use this law...including one who is bipolar.<P>Check with your local fair employment/labor board for more info.<P>Cali<BR>Cali

Hi Cali,<P>Thank you for the info. I wasn't too concerned about losing current job over this, I just don't wan't them to know because of the trust issue, and I don't want a different job within the dept. I had a good excuse if they learned of this. The play dumb angle "I didn't know I had to tell you about that".

SEM,<P>I have been thinking about this..and checked some of my books on Police Admin.. not to much there but.. I was wondering if we can take this to ICQ or email.. <P>I wanna chat former cop to cop.. and get a feel for where your at.. before you proceed any further with the hiring process. I've sat infront of several hiring boards.. (interrogative interviews - yuck) and this stage if your agency uses it.. will be really hard on you.. if your not prepared for it..<P>you can ICQ me or email me... or.. we can do it here.. Let me know.<P>------------------<BR>Semper Fi,<P><B>Husband2You</B><BR>*****<BR><I>···In the valley of the blind the one eye'd man is King···</I><P>· E-mail: <B> husband2you@petroleum.org </B> · ICQ: <B><A HREF="http://wwp.icq.com/1206499" TARGET=_blank>1206499</A></B> · Formerly: <B>E m p t y</B> ·

Darn Estes.. look at all that knowledge you've been sitting on wonderful response to SEM... I'm glad you 'de'lurked .. I have the same issues as SEM, so thanks for the insight.<P>Cali.. thanks also for reminding me of the 504.<P>------------------<BR>Semper Fi,<P><B>Husband2You</B><BR>*****<BR><I>···In the valley of the blind the one eye'd man is King···</I><P>· E-mail: <B> husband2you@petroleum.org </B> · ICQ: <B><A HREF="http://wwp.icq.com/1206499" TARGET=_blank>1206499</A></B> · Formerly: <B>E m p t y</B> ·