[chalmette70043]

Has anyone been put in the position when filling out a job application that the application asks for mental illnesses and meds you take.

On this application I just got, I am going to have to put the truth on it. Because they are doing background checks.

I'm wondering if putting this info on the application caused you to not get the job? Or putting this info had no affect on you getting the job?

Thanks,
chalmette

[MyBestKids2]

Dear gosh no..Are they asking for physical illnesses and medications also? Is it just a criminal background check, or are they checking all your medical records also?

Wow, this has me floored. Let us know what happens Chalm.

[Merlin]

Are they legally allowed to ask this question? I know that companies are allowed to ask if you have any illness that will interfere in your ability to do your job. I would choose not to answer the question at all. If I did not get the job because of that, I probably would not want one at all. I would not write none or n/a though.

[PlanningtoLive]

I had to tell a boss once, and then anytime I got upset or seemed not myself, he'd ask me if it was because of the bipolar. Used to make me feel less than human.

Wishing you luck on your application.

Mary Alice

[lenjan]

That's illegal, Chalm. I'd put down "prefer not to answer" and figure out who to report them to.

[chalmette70043]

Yes, the application wants me to list any mental illnesses and the meds i take.

I've been looking for a job for months, even went to the job center to get help and its all been unsuccesful. Yesterday i ran into my old neighbor who works for the sheriffs dept down here. She told me they are hiring for many depts. She said to come by today and get the application, so i did. She said to make sure i fill it out complete and truthfully cause they do background checks in everything. And if i am asked to come in for an interview i will be drug tested. If it gets to that point and i say i take no meds on the application, after the drug test they will know i lied when they find the meds im on.

I personally dont want to give them this information cause i have the feeling as soon as they see it, its going in the trash.

I called my counsler to talk to her about it, but of course today she is off. So i'm gonna call back tomorrow and see what she says.

I dont know, i go to the local health clinic here, which is state run. So i'm sure doing a background check they will find out right away.

This is geting to me so bad today, im so worried and paranoid.

Thank ya'll
chalmette

[Merlin]

There are often health privacy acts. Even my parents or spouse would not be told about diagnoses or medications, with the exception of if I am a danger to myself/others and they needed to be informed.

[Pationl]

The only occasion they ask me every time when I take a plane to the United States of America. Every time I succeeded to lie about it. When I was on lithium the lie would be obvious if they would find them. Now I'm on valproate I expect even less problems In this country it's not allowed to ask medical questions not even if you call your manager or HR telling them you are sick.

[lenjan]

There is a federal health privacy act in the U.S. While I understand the need for law enforcement to know stuff like this, usually they do their own testing as part of the interview process, which is acceptable if they give you something to sign letting you know that and requiring a signature for your consent. Asking it outright on a job application is massive discrimination, and illegal in the U.S.

[chalmette70043]

Wanted to let you all know, after stressing out the past two days so bad over this application. And not being able to contact my counsler for help. I went to her office earlier today. She sat down with me and helped me fill it out. She then told me to call my pdoc and let him know what was going on. I talked to him and he agreed with what she told me to give in answers on the application. He said if they contact him he cannot give them any information on me unless i sign some papers. He suggested that i not sign those papers either.

They were both very helpful with me and told me, okay its time to calm down now. lol. I'm glad thats over with and tomorrow sometime i will hand the application in. I'll let ya'll know what comes out of this.

Thank ya'll so much
chalmette

[Pationl]

Good luck, Chalmette!
Don't let them make you crazy

[HALLIEBETH87]

*hugs!*

i am in the same situation love. well, not the application question but it seems most applications have questions on them now to identify and mental illness or traits there of.....kind of pisses me off. they cant hold it against us! and its against HIPPA to even ask you that...dont say anything that reads 'information release form' or 'medical release information'

[Pationl]

<font color="blue">
Hi Beth,
do you mean HIPAA?

An off topic example:

Health Insurance related </font>

[unpredictable]

To make you feel a little better I wanted to tell you about a guy I know of. He SI'd while he was in the military, very badly and was discharged as a result. He was hospitalized and eventually he was able to return to normal life. He then proceeded to become a Sheriff. So if he could become a sheriff I see no reason you could not get a staff position at the sheriff's department. They will probably just want to make sure you are continuing to do the neccessary things to keep yourself well. Such as seeing your counselor and pdoc.

[chalmette70043]

Thank you all for supporting me with this. The application is turned in and i'm told within three weeks i should hear something. As soon as i do, I will let you all know.

love ya'll
chalmette

[SerenitysWave]

WOW! I never experienced being asked on a job app questions pertaining to mental health or medications... altho my bosses know that I have a history and I keep them updated when nessecary, I do this for me... I would not apply for a job that asked me those questions... Well, I could understand I guess for certain positions it would be nessecary to know these things ahead of time... I amjust shocked about it... Good Luck!

[Junerain]

I'm going through this question with my nursing school, and have also been asked on nanny agency applications.....I can see nursing wants me to be physically and mentally prepared, but that nanny agency was breaking the law with that application......it was to be a nanny in Washington DC and I was denied and I always wonder how my life would've gone had I moved to the capital and been a nanny there, perhaps started to do other work, there too............

[Kiya]

yeah I think i would put N/A on those forms and if after the drug test i was questioned, i would say "Yeah N/A = NOT ANSWERING".

[chalmette70043]

Hi thank ya'll. I spoke with my counsler and my pdoc both told me to list my meds im on and say its for anixety. Since practically everyone down here is on something, especially the police, fire dept, since the storm. But they told me for the other answers to put N/A. My pdoc said when they call him he will say nothing. He said i have to sign papers to have him release info on me and suggests i dont sign them.

The application was turned in last week and im told it will take up to three weeks for them to do the background checks.

In the meantime, i've applied for two other jobs. Two other new businesses that are about to open down here. These jobs wont pay much, but it will be more than minimum wage and i will get health insurance. All the others i've applied for i still havent heard a word back from them.

This gets me so frustrated on a constant basis. All i want to do is sleep. Everyone keeps telling me to relax that something will just fall into my lap and when it does it will probably be more than one. So i'll have a choice to pick from.

I hope they are right. I need a job so %#@&#! bad.

chalmette

[PlanningtoLive]

I hear you there, chalmette. It took me six months to get a job and my MH issues are really getting to me. I wish you loads of luck in your search.

Mary Alice

[chalmette70043]

Thank you Planning. Your so sweet. When i do find out anything, i'll be sure to let you all know.

chalmette

[insecurity]

Many jobs working for local, state and federal agencies will require information on mental health. I am required to fill this information out for my job also. If I lie on the background investigation I could lose my job and be fined for lying. It is always better to not lie. Many times they are trying to see if you are honest and can be trusted. Jobs that involve public safety and national security and have background checks can hire based upon mental health status due to the nature of the job.

insecurity

[Merlin]

i've lied to a professional organization before. I lied to the current college I attend about previous attendance at another university. I feel guilty about it, but I'm not ashamed. I would not have been given the chance otherwise. My failures were based on depression, but the university I had attended did not care and made no accommodations. You have to decide on a case by case basis what is moral for you.

[HALLIEBETH87]

OK, I applied for frikin KROGER and their application reads like a psych eval. no kidding! 'Do your moods ever switch for no reason?" Hell yeah but I'm going to lie to you! Being bipolar is the whole reason I have to find a new job! And there is no option not to answer. So, I lied. I feel ya Chal. I need a job so %#@&#! bad I will lie about being bipolar, no big deal to me. But, why do they even ask? Seriously? If they discard your appliction because of mood swings isn't that kind of discriminating? I don't know...either way I have been unemployed for a month now...Im tired of everyone telling me not to worry!

[chalmette70043]

Hallie, good luck in your search for a job too. Dont you just hate what we have to go thorugh just to get to an interview.

Well, this morning i faxed out my resume for an office position at a construction company down here in da parish where i live. If i am called for an interview i really hope i can get through it. But im not sure i will be able to handle working for another construction company. The one i worked at after the storm is what caused me to drink at the worse i ever have in the past. I've already sort of been triggered just by sending in my resume. All i have been thinking about is the %#@&#! i put up with at the other one.

If anything does come of this job, i hope its after i see my counsler next week. The other day when i saw her she gave me a list of 50 questions most generally asked at interviews. And my answer to most were lies and depressing. She said to bring it back with me when i see her next monday and we'll go over it one by one. She wants to do a mock interview.

Thanks to all of you for all your support, suggestions, and knowledge. You have no idea how much i appreciate it.

hugs
chalmette