Army expands mental health waivers for new recruits

The U.S. Army will now allow people with a history of certain mental health issues to seek waivers to join the service, according to a report.

The Army enacted a new policy in August that expanded waivers to potential recruits with a history of drug and alcohol abuse, “self-mutilation,” depression, and bipolar disorder, according to USA Today

Lt. Col. Randy Taylor, a spokesman for the Army, told USA Today the Army decided to expand the waivers because of increased access to medical information for potential recruits.

“The decision was primarily due to the increased availability of medical records and other data which is more readily available,” Taylor said in a statement to USA Today. “These records allow Army officials to better document applicant medical histories.”

A ban on waivers was issued by the Army in 2009 after suicides among troops spiked.

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