Losing job over Depression?

[bobi213]

My spouse is an officer within a one of our federal branches of Law enforcement. He has been with the feds for about 6 years and recently switched agencies. With that we moved to another area of the country. With the high stress job and strssfull family move, he is now suffering deep, undiagnosed, depression. He refuses to see the doctor, because he is afraid he will lose his job over it. It is getting really bad and I am affraid it will start to affect his job performance.

From your experience, if he seeks treament, will he lose his job? I know depression in law enforement is quite common, but convincing him that is is OK to seek help is harder than I thought.

[REPO42]

This post may be in my ballpark...Unless he is diagnosed with something that will prohibit his ability to do his job he should be ok. The main thing is to get help. Depression is a very treatable disease and can be controlled with or without medication.
I would recommend seeing a doctor/psychatrist if you or your husband suspect depression. I am recovered from a bout of severe depression and have just been hired. That's right I was given a job even after revealing I suffered depression four years ago. Society is acceptant nowadays especially when you see all the TV adds promoting different medications. The alarming part is that people, especially law enforcement employees are afraid to seek help for the same reason your husband is. They feel they may lose there job, be looked down on, and so on...
There is nothing wrong with seeking medical help for depression the same as one seeks help for a heart condition or cancer. As a matter of fact this can be the turning point for you and your spouse to live less stressful lives. Just as a person with a heart condition has to learn to live with his illness, and make lifestyle changes such as diet, excersise etc., your husband will probably have to learn to do the same.
There are some wonderful books on learning how to cope with stress, and learning how to deal with it. Society places such low emphasis on teaching us how to cope with stress. We live in such a fast paced society there seems never time to relax for a few minutes and focus on ourselves.
I am no doctor so I can only give advice from my personal experiance. I would definately recommend excercising on a regular basis(at least 4 times a week). After a person excercises, studies have shown that the body releases natural occuring chemicals that relax the body. I know after a good workout my body feels very relaxed.
Rest is another recommendation of mine. The body needs quality sleep, and it will stress if it is deprived of it. Try to get your husband on regular sleep schedule, possibly 6-7 good hours of sleep a night. If that is not possible maybe he can take a nap during the day(half hour naps are awesome for refreshing yourself.)
As far as medication is concerned only a doctor can determine if your husband may require it. I take anti-depressants(wellbutrin) twice daily and it has worked great for me. Along with some major lifestyle changes I worry a lot less, stress out a lot less, and relax a lot more.
I hope this helps, and you already are heading in the right direction by admitting there may be a medical problem. I wish you both the best and if you need any advice please email or post. Stay positive, depression passes and with a good doctors care and some lifestyle changes your husband will recover and feel as good as he ever has....

[PACMAN]

Ma'am I am speaking from experience and got shot down by a mod here before on this subject. When I worked for the feds I found that any contact with a psych can have adverse affects on your job standing. In other words it is not looked highly upon by them. On the SF86 it specifically ask if you have seen a doctor for psycological reasons and I have seen many friends get DQ'd for anserwing truthfully.

Long story short I was stressed out with family problems and the switch to police work and the hours when I went to work for the Border Patrol. The Patrol makes it clear that they come first and your family is second, especially shortly after the academy when you are still teated like crap. I was not used to this since I came from a PD that accepted you once you graduated the academy (still a rookie but not hazed like I was in the Patrol). This caused depression and doubt and my well being as a father to my son. My answer was I found a psych who claimed on my insurance that it was "marriage counceling" so insurnace and the Patrol would not worry about it but we handled all my problems together.

The outcome was great! I am a better parent, better husband Oh and I left the feds and went back to being a beat cop but that is a personal issue that I had to come to. Money is not everything but my child and wife and this time in my life only happens once and the Patrol was not worth it.

Get him help, it is the best thing I have ever done! No meds, no hypnosis just someone to talk to that worked me through my feelings, I would strongly reccomend it in a career that it is not always acceptable to "the boys" to admit that you may need some help other than being at the FOP or the Emerald Society on a Saturday night with your partner........although I still enjoy this on occassion........what can I say I'm still and Irish cop and I can't give up all my vices :D

[skyblue_123]

I don't know where you live, I live in So Cal, and I recall finding a professional counselor once, I think affiliated through ASIS (American Society of Industrial Security) - although I'm not 100% sure - anyhow, this man specialized in counseling LE ONLY, stress, depression, post traumatic events, undercover psychological issues and undercover "burnout", etc. If I can dig up the guy's name I'll PM you with it. You may also want to inquire through your local church and/or other agencies if they have counselors available.

I think more of us have "been here, done this" than probably would ever admit on this board, but in this profession and "the life", you are under such an extreme amount of stress, so much more than the average "Joe" is, that depression is apt to come sooner or later, over something, in varying degrees. The important thing is to acknowledge it, then take action.

I can't stress enough how important it is to seek help. I'm sorry, job be damned, but you must take care of YOU, or you'll be no good to your agency or anyone, period. If your spouse's agency does not sit right with it, then maybe the time has come for the change anyhow. Just my 2 cents worth.

God bless you and keep us posted and good luck. I'll see if I can find that professional's name and contact info.

[ATF SAC]

There is no reason in the world that you should not encourage your husband to seek counseling. If the agency he works for or another questions it, then it is a great sign that the agency ought to be put behind you in a hurry, bad place. Depression is an illness, a very destructive one, and the first rule is to be well or get well. Job is really secondary to that. Wouldn't avoid treatment for heart disease or cancer and should not for depression.

Generally, counseling is private and the only rule is that it must be disclosed if the person is a threat to themselves or others. Hope to shout.

I had agents in counseling for depression and forced at least one in on a fitness for duty issue (tough guy, although ultimately a good one). How did it affect them with the job. Not at all, supported two of them successfully for promotions they wanted. There are stone age shops out there, and there are stone age offices in the best of shops, but it is changing at long last.

You support your husband in getting well and if issues fall out of that you come back here and we will help you with that.

Might as well be straight up here. If his fears of what the job will think stalls him, you pursue counseling. If there isn't a provision in your health insurance or agency Employee Assistance Program, PM me or post and I will find you a contact. You do not have to make up answers or struggle through this alone.

[JDK]

I worked in disability EEO issues as a collateral duty. Fed LE agencies will pretend that laws do not apply to them, especially EEO laws regarding medical conditions. Your husband must do what he needs to do for himself and the family, period. I doubt that a problem would develop post hiring at all. Getting hired during or after treatment is a different story from what I've seen. If his agency feels that the laws do apply to them, specifically the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, you must show them otherwise. Good luck and make him talk to someone about this. Start with your church or any good church for that matter.