Mental Health issues and your FAC

[User00056]

I'm sure this has already been discussed on numerous threads, but I'd just like to share my own recent experiences. My wife had a bad fall about 18 months ago, and injured herself severely enough to require surgery on her arm. This took quite some time to be done, and of course left her in a lot of pain in the meantime. To cut what could be a very long story short, the result of her pain, lack of sleep, extra workload, and the pressures of a stressful job resulted in me battling anxiety for most of the last year. I did my best to just push through it, but it eventually became severe enough to affect my work performance, and eventually I had to bite the bullet and speak with my GP, who couldn't have been more helpful, and diagnosed moderate to severe anxiety.

I immediately emailed my firearms licensing department to inform them of this, and that it had resulted in my GP prescribing Sertraline to help. The support and reassurance I received, not only from my GP, but from my FEO, and indeed the Inspector in charge of Police Scotland's firearms team was heart-warming to say the least. I actually received an email to thank me for bringing the matter to his attention, and that my actions had gone a long way to reassuring him that there was absolutely no need to restrict my access to my firearms.

I guess the point of this post is to highlight the importance of not being afraid to admit to needing help before it gets out of hand, and despite what some may say the police are not out to revoke FACs at each and every turn. Obviously I can only speak from my own experience, but the relief I've already experienced from merely bringing it out into the open has been immense.

Please, please don't try and deal with stuff like this on your own if you're struggling. Ask for help!

 

[Stalker62]

Thank you for taking the trouble to share this.

It is important.

Well played.

 

[chriswjx]

It's very positive hearing stories like this.

I know Police Scotland have been upping the MH campaign for certificate holders - with them posting out a leaflet along the lines above. Obviously you still have the doom and gloom warriors saying its all a con and they're trying to get you to fess up and lose your guns. So hearing the opposite is reassuring.

 

[User00056]

doom and gloom warriors saying its all a con and they're trying to get you to fess up and lose your guns. So hearing the opposite is reassuring.

I was worried, I can't deny it. And I'm sure in some cases that result in severe depression, substance abuse, etc. revocation may well be advocated. I guess the biggest takeaway is to nip matters in the bud before they get out of hand

 

[Lloyd90]

I’ve had a similar experience with having my first child.

Deal with lots of issues in Social Services and we take the initial referrals for all sorts of child deaths… many where people have fallen asleep with their baby and they have been smothered.

I clearly got some anxiety from worrying about this and other issues, added my mum being very unwell (almost died) and my dad developing dementia around the same time.

I also spoke to the GP, who was very nice and supportive,

I also immediately notified the firearms Licencing department stating I wanted to be a responsible ticket holder and make them aware immediately.

I advised them if they wanted to come see me and check in I was very happy to work with them and engage,

I am aware they spoke with my GP, who I believe stated there’s no risks in their view, although I never got a response from the firearms dept.

I just left it that if they were worried / had issues they’d have been in touch I suppose.

The initial worry that they’re going to turn up with a SWAT team and rush out with all your guns because you’ve been a bit unwell certainly doesn’t help with the issues you’re already facing but it is nice they that hasn’t happened

 

[mealiejimmy]

Well done - I'm sure it was not an easy call to make - but the response from your FEO and his superiors is to be commended

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Roebuck9]

I think they must know everyone has issues in life to cope with but it is how you cope and what you do that is the crucial thing.

It would appear from the above that when you realise and can talk about it then they realise that you are not a threat to anyone else and can manage the problem.
Well done and dont keep it to yourself bottled up.

 

[Dave_45]

It’s always best to pour water on a spark before it becomes a fire , possibly a blazing inferno.

It’s quite clear you are a reasoned and balanced , safe individual.

I’m glad the police saw it this way too.


But more importantly I’m glad you are getting better and able to enjoy your pastime.

Massive well done for being open about it.

 

[Dazb1967]

I had to inform the DVLA and Northumbria FEO last year about a serious medical issue which meant a major brain operation which led to a spell in hospital, DVLA revoked my licence but Northumbria police FEO told me I could keep my FAC and to carry on shooting as long as I was up for it, they have been in touch fairly regularly to see how I am, Always starting with, This is just a courtesy call to see how you're doing and feeling and also if there is any changes. They have been brilliant throughout and I can't praise them enough after everything that happened.

It would have been so easy for them to say were revoking your FAC which would have been an easy option for them but instead they kept in touch to see how my recovery was going and to genuinely show they actually cared about me and not just the fact I had an FAC.

As said above you just have to be straight with them and realise they are normal people who do not want to use any excuse to take your FAC off you, I'm sure there will be other people who have had bad experiences but I have nothing but praise like Quixote

 

[Pedro]

Mental health issues, however small and however temporary aren't usually good news, but the way you've dealt with them and the feedback you've had from the authorities makes encouraging reading. Well done! I hope the way you've been treated has assisted in you getting through the issues successfully. Good to hear. (Or should that be read).

 

[User00056]

It all just goes to show that regardless of how mentally resilient you think you are, there's a limit to how much stress you can absorb without it having an effect. Hopefully my experience, and similar ones as mentioned in this thread, will go a long way to reassuring others and helping them seek any support they may need.

After all, you wouldn't keep walking around on a broken ankle, would you?

 

[Dave_45]

It all just goes to show that regardless of how mentally resilient you think you are, there's a limit to how much stress you can absorb without it having an effect. Hopefully my experience, and similar ones as mentioned in this thread, will go a long way to reassuring others and helping them seek any support they may need.

After all, you wouldn't keep walking around on a broken ankle, would you?

Bones break, ligaments strain , etc etc.
They all heal

The mind is no different

 

[cjm1066]

This is how it should be, supportive and mutual help.

All the best.

 

[purdeydog]

Good post. Hope all is well now for you both.

I’ve just submitted my renewal at the weekend. To my surprise the doctor has ticked the stress box on the medical form. To my knowledge I never new that. I went to the doctors in 2017 for tingling in my fingers and he’s written caused by stress and acute trauma. Think I might have moaned about the cost of living to him and he’s written that!

So now I am stressed about the renewal lol! Hopefully be ok.

 

[Mr. Gain]

From a purely pragmatic point of view, it makes evident sense for FLOs not to act in ways that would discourage people with mental health issues from seeking treatment or informing them of this. I would hope the reports on this encouraging thread are indicative of a policy that reflects that understanding, and not just of the humanity of those involving in treating Quixote and others with due consideration and respect at an obviously difficult time.

 

[bigtone]

I'm sure it's in no ones interest to discourage anyone from seeking help/treatment for anything.My health comes before any hobbies,as that's all shooting is for me.

 

[geoshot]

I had an experience along similar lines recently
I had a heart attack in early February this year and whilst attending cardiac rehab sessions I entered into a discussion with one of the lead cardiac care nurses about symptoms etc
She asked me about feelings of fear, anxiety and stress
I stated, in my usual casual off-hand way, that the heart attack caused me to experience more fear than at any other point in my life - even more than being injured in an car-bomb explosion many years ago
She told me that she was worried that my experience of fear might reawaken symptoms related to PTSD, so she referred me to a clinical psychologist
I assured her that I didn't think that had happened or would happen because I actually felt quite happy to have survived and all that
But she was insistent and referred me to the trick-cyclist
I thought no more about it until I mentioned it to my missus who immediately told me to inform my FEO as she knew that I had mentioned about thinking of buying myself a new rifle
Because of what my missus sad I then discussed it further with a couple of good friends, one of whom is an RFD
They all suggested the same
Stick in the variation BUT TELL THE FEO about what was happening before doing so
I did, and it could hardly have worked out better
FEO said "thanks for letting us know, and don't worry"
Clinical psychologist gave me the all clear too - the sessions with her became just pleasant chats over coffee in the end
Quickest turn around on a variation I've ever had too - just 21 working days! That was nearly as big a shock as the heart attack ffs!!
I was worried that any likelihood of a possible reoccurrence of PTSD might be a hindrance, might even lose me my FAC, but the fact that I had been open about previous PTSD and this referral to a specialist seemed to reassure the FEO & FET

 

[bigtone]

I had triple bypass surgery 18 months ago and it caused zero problems with firearms.

 

[NullMac]

Good to see Police Scotland walking the walk.

I got the leaflet when I renewed which seemed to explain a thoroughly sensible process. Promising but you can never be sure that will be implemented, good intentions and all that. Its got to be the right approach, having a Firearms Licence as a barrier to mental health treatment is not good for anybody

 

[JH83]

I think the sticking point is when things are withheld from licensing, or things become so severe that self harm is in some way intimated. Quite clearly you have to be exceptionally careful what you say as a FAC holder even at your lowest ebb, as you’d expect. If depression is diagnosed they’ll want to know medication doses, and the length of time it’s been taken. I don’t think that’s unfair.

I have spoken with several people who have had to go off work with stress/anxiety, all of which kept their tickets. They were up front and transparent.

I’d echo previous posters sentiments, what a great and candid opening post. Important conversation.