PAL Application:Part C-Personal History

Mauser GDog

Mauser GDog

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Preparing to apply for my PAL card, reading over the Application I notice a question in;

Part C: Personal History 6.c) Re: Being diagnosed in the past 5 years as depressed.

I have met with doctor in the past 5 years, and have been taking a prescription medicine that is commonly prescribed to treat depression. I am in the process of coming off my prescription with my doctors approval.

My question is, by checking "YES" to Part C: 6.c), will this prevent me outright from obtaining my PAL, or will it simply lead to more thorough questioning by the RCMP?

I suppose a doctors note explaining my current situation, along with his support of my decision to come off the medication would be a good item to obtain ahead of time.

Just curious.
Amazing community you have here.

Thanks
Mauser
 
If you've been specifically diagnosed with depression in the last 5 years, I'd mark yes. I would also provide details and get a letter from your doctor (and) psychiatrist/psychoanalyst......if you think that would help. Don't bother asking for an opinion about owning firearms......no one in their right mind is going to give one for liability reasons. I don't imagine the CFC would deny your application without investigating further.
 
If you were diagnosed, was it situational or chemical in nature? If situational, has the particular event or circumstance been resolved? If chemical, has it been brought under control through diet, exercise, adequate coping skills? Perhaps you won't even know until you've been off your meds for a reasonable period of time. I'm no doctor, but I've heard that discontinuance of meds can be a volatile time for the patient - so you need to be careful. It may be in your best interests to wait until that 5 year period has lapsed.
 
I suppose you could check no. If they find anything to the contrary, you can claim you didn't understand or were confused as to the diagnosis. Ie, you thought you were being treated for shyness, low self-esteem or anxiety. :rolleyes:
 
promac said:
discontinuance of meds can be a volatile time for the patient - so you need to be careful. It may be in your best interests to wait until that 5 year period has lapsed.
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Yeah, getting off anti-dep's can be an "interesting" process. However, asking questions about depression in the context of firearms ownership is really a suicide related question, and I kind of think it's a stupid one. Might as well ask -- do you own a car? a plastic bag? a knife? a rope? a razor blade? have you the strength to hike/climb a tall structure of some kind? how about any poisonous substances in your dwelling place? Do you live near a busy road?

The list is endless.
 
"...could that be a discrimination case for human rights commission?..." Nope. You have to right to own property, never mind a firearm.
 
I have a family history of depression, but I suffer more from a lack of coping skills, which my wife, myself and a therapist have been addressing for some time.

I have not been diagnosed as depressed, either chemical or situational, and the medication I am on treats a wide spectrum of symptoms.

Taking ideas from several of your posts here ( 7 in 1 hour, wow) I think the best approach would be;

1. Confirm with my doctor that I have not technically been diagnosed, because you never know what they are putting in your file.

As a extra precaution, I'd get his recommendation of getting off the medication "prescribed to help with coping skills in the interm while patient focuses on diet, exercise, communication etc...." (which I have been doing) in writing or at least ensure he adds it to my file.

2. Complete the application and check "no".

So far, nobody here has said "if you check YES you will be denied" which is good news.

I have been told by my doctor and many others that coming off the meds can be a difficult time, so I'd have to make sure my wife was aware of everything I am going through. Time to use my new communication skills! :bigHug:

Heck, by the time I choose my first firearm purchase it could be 5 years from now!

Thanks guys.
 
Mauser GDog said:
Preparing to apply for my PAL card, reading over the Application I notice a question in;

Part C: Personal History 6.c) Re: Being diagnosed in the past 5 years as depressed.

I have met with doctor in the past 5 years, and have been taking a prescription medicine that is commonly prescribed to treat depression. I am in the process of coming off my prescription with my doctors approval.

My question is, by checking "YES" to Part C: 6.c), will this prevent me outright from obtaining my PAL, or will it simply lead to more thorough questioning by the RCMP?

I suppose a doctors note explaining my current situation, along with his support of my decision to come off the medication would be a good item to obtain ahead of time.

Just curious.
Amazing community you have here.

Thanks
Mauser
Click to expand...

I am of the opinion that, if your doctor has been treating you with medication for depression, you have been diagnosed with depression. Like it or not. I am also of the opinion that to answer "no" - in this case - would be a lie. However, if you ask first, and your doctor says otherwise, then fill yer boots.

Answering "yes" will not disqualify the application. It will simply require you to attach a letter explaining the details of your situation. Most all applicants are having their references called nowadays, asking about history of violence and risk of violence, etc. Your references will probably be called also. Nothing unusual.

I predict that it will not even slow the processing of your application.
 
Mauser GDog said:
I have a family history of depression, but I suffer more from a lack of coping skills, which my wife, myself and a therapist have been addressing for some time.

I have not been diagnosed as depressed, either chemical or situational, and the medication I am on treats a wide spectrum of symptoms.
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Stop, do not pass go! Check the no box and carry on. Don't go opening up a huge can of worms!

Just because a doctor prescribes anti-depressants - especially those that treat a wide spectrum of symtoms, doesn't necessarily mean you have been diagnosed with depression. Meds are often prescribed as a diagnostic tool when a diagnosis can't readily be made. I'm guessing the meds are merely a "bridge".
 
What the CFC is going to contact his doctor? His references are going to tell them that he is a depressed looney? The mere fact that he doesn't know if he was diagnosed as depressed says he probably wasn't... However the fact he says he has a lack of coping skills says he probably should tick yes and let the gov't tell him he can come back in five years when he isn't a danger to himself or those around him..
 
Will they not ask his references anyway? They (references, wife) may be aware that you are taking medication and not sure about the entire partciulars of your diagnosis. Tell them exactly what you are taking the meds for. There are too many possible scenarios where this question could be asked of the references and they let it slip.
 
mopix said:
Will they not ask his references anyway? They (references, wife) may be aware that you are taking medication and not sure about the entire partciulars of your diagnosis. Tell them exactly what you are taking the meds for. There are too many possible scenarios where this question could be asked of the references and they let it slip.
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Doctor patient confidentiality would prevent it..
 
Glad I found a thread relating to this even if it is an old one. This issue has been on my mind lately.
I'll be applying for my PAL very shortly. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with depression, which is being dealt with satisfactorily with medication and dietary changes.
I never had psychotic episodes or was suicidal. Also, my wife is one of my references, which I hope will weigh in my favour.

I plan to check "yes" on the application (with explanation on another page, as required).
If my application is rejected, yes I will be disappointed, but at least my conscience will be clear and I won't have to worry about having lied about my application.
 
I had to answer yes to both the depression and job loss questions. I aimed high and applied for both my PAL and RPAL, too. I sent in a short letter from my doctor (who I hadn't seen in 3 years), had my references call in, and settled in for the wait. In addition to the regular interview they do early on, I was interviewed by the CFO, and we had a nice chat about the nature of the job loss/depression as well as some basic safety, and what I planned on purchasing, to which I answered a small game rifle, and probably an SKS or CZ 858! He didn't seem to even flinch on the other side. Just be honest. He approved my application right after that call.

I still haven't recieved it in the mail, but when I do, the whole time is almost 4 months, so be patient. (some of the delay is simply backlog though... apparently a CFO didn't even glance at my app for over 30 days after they got it in the office). It pays to call them to at least get an update on how things are going. I called every 3 weeks to a month to gently pester them. Also, ignore everyone telling you to answer no. If you went for counseling, and ended up being medicated for some time (as I was), answer yes. Just be patient.
 
From CFC website, d) During the past five (5) years, have you threatened or attempted suicide, or have you suffered from or been diagnosed or treated by a medical practitioner for: depression; alcohol, drug or substance abuse; behavioural problems; or emotional problems?
 
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