NBS Assesses Mental Health: One-Third of Rejections Due to Psychological Issues
Latvian National Armed Forces reject candidates with mental health problems, accounting for about a third of all denials. A reservist recounts being turned away due to a doctor visit years ago.
Latvia needs professionally trained defenders – soldiers, national guardsmen, and reservists. However, for years, a large number of applicants have been rejected due to health issues. Some of those not accepted into the State Defense Service or reserve training programs receive refusals because of mental health problems.
According to the Latvian Television program “De facto,” approximately one-third of all rejected candidates are turned away for this reason. “Delfi” spoke with one such individual – Ilze (name changed).
In 2017, Ilze consulted a psychiatrist for sleep disorders. Living in a house with thin walls worsened her condition, and she sought medication. The doctor prescribed mild antidepressants. Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ilze applied for reserve training with the National Armed Forces. She encountered a barrier – that past doctor visit was deemed sufficient grounds for rejection.
The article explores how justified such decisions are and whether they hinder the Ministry of Defense’s numerical targets.
