Really worried about my mental health history getting in the way of my PAL....

[KB_TheDireWolf]

So, I do have a history of chronic depression. I have my ups and downs but, I've never been suicidal. Ask for 5 years prior history, well I would have been 13 and I've been having chronic depression from kinda pass then. Maybe a bit before, I cannot remember anything anymore really. Just the way I've dealt with it and moved on with my life.

I am mainly depressed about my shortcomings most of the time, like my ineptitude at making friends or talking with people ( having mild Asperger's is sometimes a #####). My mom who suffers from spina bifida doesn't help either.

It is just worrying me about what should I do, I have my PAL training coming up for both on and restricted.

I want a firearm because it always puts a smile on my face and instantly improves my mood the times I have shot a rifle (AR platform is super fun). Also, I just love military history...

Just that I have been waiting since I turned 18 to gain income to support this sport. Now I do and have my training next week. Just I have been waiting and waiting for this, and just to lose it over my mental health or having it delayed (Have seen a person have to wait 10 months on Reddit) is having me sh*ting out bricks...

 

[DRE369]

The system is in place for a reason, if they make you wait for a period of time, consider that just more time to build funds to buy what you'd like, but if you have suffered from mental health issues and depression (many people have, be hard pressed to find anyone that can go through life without being impacted in some way by one of those) then it might be best for you to hold off on buying and owning guns (which is what PAL is for) until you've gone a decent period of time being well. That's not to say you can't go shoot with a buddy or someone who you know that owns firearms... it seems like you are well aware of the issues you're going through to post about it here, so perhaps when you do your PAL course you can meet someone from your area that can take you shooting and enjoy the sport of it, while you wait for your health to get better.

There is no time limit on when to submit paperwork to obtain your PAL as far as I know, and certainly waiting a year or more after completing the course is allowed, so why not try this, and see how it goes? I'm not telling you what to do, but I do know that if you are denied your PAL for mental health reasons, it will be much harder to get it back than it would be to say, take some time to make sure you're in a good state of mind/health to just outright get it.

Good luck man, hope it all goes well, you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders and will make a good decision if you put enough thought into it.

 

[philhut]

At worst you may need an accompanying letter from your doctor. If your history is recorded as a minor it may or may not carry over into your adult file. Very few people are rejected from recieving a PAL and from what I have read this usually has something to do with court ordered prohibitions.

Be honest on the form it may only entail a phone interview. Main issue is thst the depressive episode is resolved and no longer a recurrent issue. If something has happened recently

 

[KB_TheDireWolf]

The system is in place for a reason, if they make you wait for a period of time, consider that just more time to build funds to buy what you'd like, but if you have suffered from mental health issues and depression (many people have, be hard pressed to find anyone that can go through life without being impacted in some way by one of those) then it might be best for you to hold off on buying and owning guns (which is what PAL is for) until you've gone a decent period of time being well. That's not to say you can't go shoot with a buddy or someone who you know that owns firearms... it seems like you are well aware of the issues you're going through to post about it here, so perhaps when you do your PAL course you can meet someone from your area that can take you shooting and enjoy the sport of it, while you wait for your health to get better.

There is no time limit on when to submit paperwork to obtain your PAL as far as I know, and certainly waiting a year or more after completing the course is allowed, so why not try this, and see how it goes? I'm not telling you what to do, but I do know that if you are denied your PAL for mental health reasons, it will be much harder to get it back than it would be to say, take some time to make sure you're in a good state of mind/health to just outright get it.

Good luck man, hope it all goes well, you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders and will make a good decision if you put enough thought into it.

Its more of my pass that is worring me, not now. Am fine and stable have been for a while now. None of my family owns firearms, I picked this up on my own. In fact, my mom hates guns and doesn't even what me to store one in our house (even though she supports me owning one) and my father had a half borther kill himself with a shotgun. So you can see that is a major detrent already.

I mostly want only one rifle, a No.4 Lee-Endfield:

I had three great uncles who served with Canada during WW2 two died (above) from my dads side if you want the full story have to seach though all these photos I have made: https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/ABztbB

and my grandfather who was a Newfie join the forestry unit and then Royal Navy along with some of his brothers from my mom. Trying to find records of people who survived the war is a ##### to find due to laws. Paying the goverment to give you your family members service records is something I think is crazy...

 

[scout_289]

This person's dilemma is a perfect example of why we should have a formal alliance with a group like CMHA.

We would help them and in turn they would help us to develop a protocol to give gunnies the best possible chance to obtain, keep and recover firearms privileges when dealing with issues of mental health & wellness.

 

[KB_TheDireWolf]

At worst you may need an accompanying letter from your doctor. If your history is recorded as a minor it may or may not carry over into your adult file. Very few people are rejected from receiving a PAL and from what I have read this usually has something to do with court-ordered prohibitions.

Be honest on the form it may only entail a phone interview. The main issue is that the depressive episode is resolved and no longer a recurrent issue. If something has happened recently

They are looking for violent tendencies correct? When I am depressed I shut down and don't want to do anything. It is a recurring problem, just takes something to trigger me bad enough. E.g. last semester, I realized maybe, in fact, I have Asperger's by playing on my football team and interacting with others my age combined with me getting a shoulder injury I shut down from late oct, till like Jan. Meds have no effects on me, I go day by day in a set routine during the weekday. Then when its the weekend, I generally go to my fathers across the city. Get to play with cars and stuff.

Video gaming and youtube, cars, firearms, ww2 military history, and a bit of modeling are my stuff I do. Maybe sports if I feel like doing them. I am not a social person, I have not made a friend in school during my 3 years there and am going on 4 cause I need to return to gr. 12. I was bullied when I was younger, even though I do not remember it. Still has shaped how I approach people, which is to approach them when I need to, keep to yourself so you do not stand out. Nor, do I know how to make small talk to begin a friendship. Hell, nobody, I know who is 18 like me reads Wikipedia on military history for fun. I got nicked named tank in one class due to me being able to make out crude drawings of like Tiger I etc.

You will find Creedence Clearwater Revival, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Beach Boys etc. In my personal music, again a conversation goes like this with a teammate. Kanye West is coming to Calgary, am buying tickets right now (after a game on the bus). Me: Who is Kanye West?

 

[willywonka519]

I would not assume/record any mental health diagnoses until you talk to your physician, or better yet be assessed by a psychiatrist. Two key features of a major depressive episode are 1)anhedonia / lack of interest or pleasure in hobbies/activities AND 2) low mood which coexist together with some other symptoms for a period of at least two weeks.

With respect to possoble Aspergers, again I would suggest a formal assessment before recording a diagnoses on any forms.

 

[win94luver]

I got mine so you have nothing to worry about.

 

[tiriaq]

No one here can tell you whether or not you should have firearms. If you go through the process, answer all the questions on the application truthfully.