exNavyOffRec
Well-Known Member
That is a 12 year old preliminary study that was done prior to many of these issues coming up, it also just addresses "waivers", nearly all who get waivers are not for mental health. A waiver can be needed for a pin in an ankle, certain surgeries, shoplifting, or for a speeding ticket over a certain amount (which means 2 people both exceeding the limit by the same amount may have different fines which leads to 1 needing a waiver and 1 does not).
The preliminary study also only references those who committed suicide, that is a small number compared to those that actually complete the act. In my entire career only 1 person I knew completed the act while several attempted, not all had pre-service waivers for a mental health issue but most did. A high stress environment can push many to the edge and sometimes over it.
That preliminary study was done to give a single answer in response to a single question and it did that, but in the greater scope it is flawed. A person who attempts suicide is likely going to not be able to perform their job for a certain length of time or maybe not ever again if discharged/mandatory job change. That means more time and money are spent to train a replacement, heavier workload for those in that shop, which can lead to resentment of the person who had the mental health issue, which can then cause those that need help to not seek for fear of being looked down on.
I can tell you that over 2 recruiting tours I had 6 that I ended up getting waivers on for some type of mental health, only a couple had taken meds in the past. I know that 4 didn't last more than 2 years, I know 1 who retired as a CDR, and the other one is unknown. This doesn't include the one who was killed in a car accident shortly before completing his training before reporting to a ship, but by all accounts he would have been a success story. While that is a tiny piece of the puzzle it showed me why they take a hard look at those who have had mental health treatment.