London Medical - Self Harm/Depression

[NicolaBolton87 161]

I know this has been asked a few times but I can only find old posts - nothing recent.

 

I'm just wondering as I should hopefully be having my medical sometime in the next couple of months (just received NOA2 a few weeks ago) and I've seen a few old posts about self harm scars potentially causing concern at the medical.

 

I am 30 now. I self harmed when I was around 15/16 so a long time ago! I was on anti-depressants around the same time but not for long as I didn't like the effects. I battled Anorexia as well but was never hospitalised, have never tried to take my own life, have never been a danger to others etc. I'm just wondering what other people's experiences are on this topic?

I will be honest, of course. I have seen posts where others have been advised to cover scars and say they have never self harmed and I absolutely will not be doing this! I'll be honest and upfront but just wondered how other people have got on with this...

 

Thank you

[G Walters 136]

Get your GP to do you up a letter stating treatment and that you are no harm to your self or others. It will be needed. My wife had depression issues and when noted at the medical due to the Meds she was on she needed to get this after the fact and it delayed things a few days.

[NicolaBolton87 161]

7 minutes ago, G Walters said:

Get your GP to do you up a letter stating treatment and that you are no harm to your self or others. It will be needed. My wife had depression issues and when noted at the medical due to the Meds she was on she needed to get this after the fact and it delayed things a few days.

Thank you so much for this - I will do! Was your wife ok after she had this from her GP? Everything approved etc?

[yuna628 9,700]

The advice you received from the other poster is a must for passing a medical when experiencing any mental health issues, depression, or having a prior history of self harm. Never lie or attempt to hide your history. These questions will be asked and must be answered.

[NicolaBolton87 161]

7 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

The advice you received from the other poster is a must for passing a medical when experiencing any mental health issues, depression, or having a prior history of self harm. Never lie or attempt to hide your history. These questions will be asked and must be answered.

Thanks - I'd already said categorically that I would not be lying or hiding anything.

[G Walters 136]

 Yes she was fine once she had the letter from the GP submitted approval came a day or so later. No issues and visa issued.

[LeesaMarie 206]

Hello,

 

I have been trying to find a lot on this myself for same reasons. The general consensus is to have your GP sign you off and make sure you get your patient care summary before attending your appointment. After a lot of anxiety about this, I have not yet read any posts of people being denied on the grounds of mental health issues, and have come to the conclusion that providing we show we are okay there will not be any problems.

 

From what I can gather, if they do have a concern, they will refer you to their own psychiatric department for a sign off. 

 

I also found this:

 

Overcoming the Inadmissibility Bar

If it becomes clear that the intending immigrant is likely to be found inadmissible based on a mental or physical disorder, the person has two possible routes of dealing with this.

First, he or she can show U.S. immigration officials that, although he or she has a particular disorder or disability, the condition is not associated with any kind of threatening or harmful behavior. Usually this involves providing as much documentation as possible about any medical or psychological treatment that the immigrant receives that mitigates the effects of the condition. The intending immigrant can also secure prognoses from medical and psychological care professionals attesting that his or her disorder is not associated with dangerous behavior, or that such behavior can be controlled and maintained.

 

If there are historic problems, you'll need to get a mini case together I suppose to show any treatment you underwent, and paperwork to assure them you're not a risk. Your patient care summary will also show the last time there were any problems, so if the gap is significant (15 years ago), a sign off from your GP should be fine.

 

I hope this helps!

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

The key to self-harm or depression at Knightsbridge clinic is bring something from your GP that says you are not a risk to yourself or others.  The doctors at Knightsbridge do not know you or anything about you. They want input from a medical professional who has some previous knowledge and interaction with you so they don't approve a serious psycho who acted nice for a brief medical visit. I can think of many in this forum who have had previous self harm or depression issues who got their visa simply by having such a note written by their GP. 

 

The Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians on mental health and substance related disorders are here  https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/mental-panel-technical-instructions.html

 

 

They include this:

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides three grounds of inadmissibility related to substance addiction or abuse, or physical or mental disorders that affect behavior. They are –

• Current physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior.
• Past physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior if the harmful behavior is likely to recur or lead to other harmful behavior in the future.
• Drug (substance) abuse or addiction (medically called dependence). Dependence on or abuse of any of the substances listed in Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (Appendix C). (The term addiction corresponds with the medical term dependence).

 

[NicolaBolton87 161]

Ah you guys are great, thank you so much. I’ll definitely get a statement from my doctor about all the mental health stuff ☺️