depression and suicide attempt

[samwatts 0]

im going to go to the doctors and sort out what injections me and kids are goin to be needing and wasnt sure if i also need to ask for a letter regarding my past depression.

at the age of 13 i made a suicide attempt, and as a result saw a psychiatrist for bout 6 months. from then to the age of bout 18 i was on and off anti depressants. only ever took for bout 2/3 months at a time and had attended a few councelling sessions until i knew i was feelin better then would be fine for bout a year or so.

i havent taken any anti depressants or needed any counselling tho for the past 9/10 years.

Question is what will i need my doctor to write in the letter? will the doctor need to explain all the ins and outs of what happened? would i also need anything from a psychiatrist as it was 15 years ago?

any help is greatly appreciated,

thankyou xxx

[MargotDarko 0]

Hello. I have read some similar threads, and it seems the recommendation is to get a letter from the doctor and the psychiatrist as well if possible. It shouldn't be a problem, but you should be totally up front and prepared.

[Carlawarla 1]

If you are asked if you are suffering from depression, I'd answer no, but if it's the "history" question, you'd have to answer yes. I'd ask your family doctor, or even the psychiatrist who treated you, to just briefly type up a letter explaining that you were seen approximately 10 years ago for depression and that treatment was by way of medication and counselling. I'd also have them put a "discharge" date, or the last counselling session, or medication prescription expiry date on it as well.

Just my opinion!

Carla

[kins 0]

If you are asked if you are suffering from depression, I'd answer no, but if it's the "history" question, you'd have to answer yes. I'd ask your family doctor, or even the psychiatrist who treated you, to just briefly type up a letter explaining that you were seen approximately 10 years ago for depression and that treatment was by way of medication and counselling. I'd also have them put a "discharge" date, or the last counselling session, or medication prescription expiry date on it as well.

Just my opinion!

Carla

At my medical (yesterday) the doctor asked if I'd had depression or anxiety in the past. I said yes I had but it was short-lived and was 10 years ago. She said as it was short-lived and hadn't reoccured since then she wouldn't ask for more information, which I assume would've been from my GP otherwise. So I'd say if you're going to declare it then you should go armed with a doctor's letter explaining it all.

[homesick_american 1]

I agree; get a letter from your GP before you go to the medical. I wish we'd known about this before going to my husband's medical; he's still on antidepressants but he's completely fine on them; it's when he comes off them that he gets a little wiggy. They approved him no problem.

[samwatts 0]

would they really expect me to get a letter from a psychiatrist i was treated by 15 years ago? or would it be more sense to try and get something from the counsellor i saw 10 years ago? just seems so long ago that im worried wont be able to retireve info they want.

will try and get to doctors as soon as possible though to try and make sure i can get all the info i can get.

thanks everyone xxx

[Teddy406 0]

would they really expect me to get a letter from a psychiatrist i was treated by 15 years ago? or would it be more sense to try and get something from the counsellor i saw 10 years ago? just seems so long ago that im worried wont be able to retireve info they want.

will try and get to doctors as soon as possible though to try and make sure i can get all the info i can get.

thanks everyone xxx

One of the questions on the medical form you complete on the day of the medical "have you ever taken action to end your own life?"

Since you will have to put "yes" and "yes" to depression, you should get a letter of some kind from at least your GP.

A letter from your GP you along the lines of "when you were depressed, how you were treated including the therapy and any medicene, and the fact in the last ten years you have had no referrals or recurrance" would be a good start. Without this, you will find that either they ask you to get one and fax it over or possibly, IIRC, even have to go to a US approved psychologist for an examination/evaluation.

If you look at the criteria for a medical exam, they want to know there is very little chance you are likely to repeat such behaviour and be a potential danger to yourself our others.

Cheers

Teddy

[Lizzy 0]

I had the same things happen to me as you. I went to the medical and i was called on the telephone by my doctor about a week later stating i needed a letter from a psyc... mine was 15 years ago.

[cartaverde 12]

So ..

If you were never officially diagnosed depression by any doctor, nurse etc, then you did not have it?

Also what if you don't have GP or any other doctor? Are GP notes supposed to be fore some background info in any case? I have lived around the world and I have never had any specific doctor taking care of me, so I won't be able to get that .. also my records are in way too many countries to even try to make a puzzle about them. :-/

[Lizzy 0]

I went to a private psychologist for my letter.

[Leney 0]

For some major surgeries you need psych clearance, and you can go to any psychologist, they interview you shortly, and type up a letter stating you are currently sane, free of depression, etc - I would think you could have something like that done and it should suffice even if you are unable to get to your GP or psychologist who previously treated you.

[samwatts 0]

bit of an update,

i went to the docs and she had a quick look through my file and we discovered that even though i had a suicide attempt and prescribed anti depressants at 13, i was never actually diagnosed as depressed!! Not until 1998 for a total of 2 months.

rather strange i think but hey they should know what they are on about!! lol

doctor and i discussed it all and decided that we dont think i will need any letter from her to take and for me to tell them that the suicide attempt was all put down to adolescence and the depression in 1998 was down to being low from being burgled.

she has however agreed to write a letter immediately if they do request one though.

but then of course she will as the letter will cost me £60-£87!!

Anyhow fingers crossed they will be satisfied with my explanations at the medical.

Now im just goin to docs for my lovely injections!!

oh how the fun never ends lol

sam xxx

[babybunny 2]

This process is enought to make anyone "nuts".

[Oath 0]

It should be noted there are many different degrees of depression some may result in instant denial, others won't even come on radar, having a letter stating periods of it, the treatment you have had or are having, the circumstances involved in any harm you may have caused yourself and any other relevant information you can think of, I think ultimately it is better to bring it out in the open than let it bite you in the ### later on.

[homesick_american 1]

bit of an update,

i went to the docs and she had a quick look through my file and we discovered that even though i had a suicide attempt and prescribed anti depressants at 13, i was never actually diagnosed as depressed!! Not until 1998 for a total of 2 months.

rather strange i think but hey they should know what they are on about!! lol

doctor and i discussed it all and decided that we dont think i will need any letter from her to take and for me to tell them that the suicide attempt was all put down to adolescence and the depression in 1998 was down to being low from being burgled.

she has however agreed to write a letter immediately if they do request one though.

but then of course she will as the letter will cost me £60-£87!!

Anyhow fingers crossed they will be satisfied with my explanations at the medical.

Now im just goin to docs for my lovely injections!!

oh how the fun never ends lol

sam xxx

Holy #######...I can't remember if our GP charged my husband at all for the letter.