Follow up mental health

[Nytoga330]

My son had anxiety in the Fall of his sophomore year. He spoke to a psychologist 3 times over video conferencing. The doctor suggested some strategies in dealing with my son's feelings (he was just dumped by his girlfriend and was overwhelmed with school and responsibilities). After the second session the doctor suggested just following up of my son felt it necessary. He felt ok and ended up having a great year. We did make him follow up just in case, with the therapist.

In that last session (in November), the therapist didn't wrote anything in her notes stating that my son was over his anxiety. Just that my son was successful in implementing strategies and feeling 8-9/10 in terms of stress levels. Is that enough to get a DODMERB waiver when application time comes? Or should we schedule another appointment and get specific notes stating that my son is not having mental health issues anymore?

 

[usna2026h]

I was DQ-ed for anxiety and depression and got my waiver denied. I tried appealing it with doctor's and therapist's notes to no avail. For USNA, they told me I needed 12 months clear from my last incident/end of treatment. I reapplied the following year (now having >12 months since I ended therapy) and got a waiver.

Of course, it is on a case-by-case basis, so there is no definitive answer. However, I emailed the medical technician for admissions multiple times to ask exactly what was needed for my condition to be most likely waiverable.

 

[Nytoga330]

I was DQ-ed for anxiety and depression and got my waiver denied. I tried appealing it with doctor's and therapist's notes to no avail. For USNA, they told me I needed 12 months clear from my last incident/end of treatment. I reapplied the following year (now having >12 months since I ended therapy) and got a waiver.

Of course, it is on a case-by-case basis, so there is no definitive answer. However, I emailed the medical technician for admissions multiple times to ask exactly what was needed for my condition to be most likely waiverable.

Thank you. It will be more than 12 months by the time he applies. I will set up another session just to have a paper trail

 

[floridahopeful]

My daughter in a similar situation. She will be off all meds and counseling for depression in December. Should I wait until January to schedule her medical appointment.

 

[Ranger1015]

my son was treated by a pediatrician in 8th grade for anxiety regarding playing sports. He prescribed a Benadryl type medicine. We noted this in the medical exam process and we were sent to a psychiatrist who said all was good 5 years later. He never went beyond the pediatrician for any treatment, although it is not noted anywhere that he overcame the anxiety. Just that the school year ended. We have submitted everything by July 13 and are waiting a decision. How likely is it that he will be granted a waiver? And how long does it usually take?

 

[Capt MJ]

my son was treated by a pediatrician in 8th grade for anxiety regarding playing sports. He prescribed a Benadryl type medicine. We noted this in the medical exam process and we were sent to a psychiatrist who said all was good 5 years later. He never went beyond the pediatrician for any treatment, although it is not noted anywhere that he overcame the anxiety. Just that the school year ended. We have submitted everything by July 13 and are waiting a decision. How likely is it that he will be granted a waiver? And how long does it usually take?

Each commissioning program (service academies, all the service ROTC, etc.) has its own waiver authority.

Big picture - the DoDMERB and waiver process keep going until late spring for some candidates. Assuming you have just started the process for this cycle (I can’t tell what commissioning path or service), the pipeline of cases awaiting waiver review should not be massive at this point. There is simply no way to tell. All cases are evaluated individually and per the waiver policy for that particular condition. The waiver policies differ among the services, because the missions, operating environments, gear and equipment differ.

The candidate should always be tending to alternative plans, as a common sense measure.