Answer to Have you had any serious disease or physical or mental disorder

[xendron]

I was in a Car accident last year and I went to see a psychologist. I asked them whether my condition comes under "serious disease or physical or mental disorder" to answer that question on Background declaration form for PR. They told me that "you have symptoms of PTSD but it does not seem to affect your life in any way as you were able to graduate and also work full time after the accident" but he was not sure about whether to answer "yes" or "no" to that question. Please help.

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

I was in a Car accident last year and I went to see a psychologist. I asked them whether my condition comes under "serious disease or physical or mental disorder" to answer that question on Background declaration form for PR. They told me that "you have symptoms of PTSD but it does not seem to affect your life in any way as you were able to graduate and also work full time after the accident" but he was not sure about whether to answer "yes" or "no" to that question. Please help.

You don't appear to have a serious mental condition.

 

[GandiBaat]

I was in a Car accident last year and I went to see a psychologist. I asked them whether my condition comes under "serious disease or physical or mental disorder" to answer that question on Background declaration form for PR. They told me that "you have symptoms of PTSD but it does not seem to affect your life in any way as you were able to graduate and also work full time after the accident" but he was not sure about whether to answer "yes" or "no" to that question. Please help.

The real answer is no one is really sure. Canadian immigration law does not define what does "serious" mean. So if your day to day activities are not compromised "no" is perhaps the right answer.

 

[Kaibigan]

I was in a Car accident last year and I went to see a psychologist. I asked them whether my condition comes under "serious disease or physical or mental disorder" to answer that question on Background declaration form for PR. They told me that "you have symptoms of PTSD but it does not seem to affect your life in any way as you were able to graduate and also work full time after the accident" but he was not sure about whether to answer "yes" or "no" to that question. Please help.

I would not hesitate to answer "no". Having symptoms of PTSD is not the same as having PTSD. Moreover, even if diagnosed with PTSD, it can range from having almost no negative effect on you to having quite a significant effect. You were told your symptoms "did not seem to affect your life in any way". That seems to me to be saying "your symptoms are not serious".

It seems clear you have never been given a diagnosis of PTSD under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Without that, you are not being untruthful if you answer in the negative.

 

[Canada2020eh]

No

 

[xendron]

I would not hesitate to answer "no". Having symptoms of PTSD is not the same as having PTSD. Moreover, even if diagnosed with PTSD, it can range from having almost no negative effect on you to having quite a significant effect. You were told your symptoms "did not seem to affect your life in any way". That seems to me to be saying "your symptoms are not serious".

It seems clear you have never been given a diagnosis of PTSD under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Without that, you are not being untruthful if you answer in the negative.

I had the doctor tell me that your diagnosis is PTSD but for more details I need to examine the questioners and the assessment notes in more detail. When I asked him about that question about immigration forms, he told me that you can write "no" and then he also said that you can write "yes" and mention that you have symptoms but it does not affect your daily life as you were still able to graduate school and complete your degree and also work full-time right now, that will be the most truthful and safest answer. Then I talked to an immigration consultant and they told me that if you write yes then you should be ready with proof proving what you have written. That's why I am confused about this, because the very proof is that I am still able to continue my regular life.

 

[Kaibigan]

I had the doctor tell me that your diagnosis is PTSD but for more details I need to examine the questioners and the assessment notes in more detail. When I asked him about that question about immigration forms, he told me that you can write "no" and then he also said that you can write "yes" and mention that you have symptoms but it does not affect your daily life as you were still able to graduate school and complete your degree and also work full-time right now, that will be the most truthful and safest answer. Then I talked to an immigration consultant and they told me that if you write yes then you should be ready with proof proving what you have written. That's why I am confused about this, because the very proof is that I am still able to continue my regular life.

Was it the psychologist who told you the diagnosis is PTSD? To be confident in the dx, I would prefer the diagnostician to be a psychiatrist. This doctor has equivocated, saying you can answer "yes" or "no". Given that, it would appear that this person does not see your mental illness, to the extent that one exists, to be "serious". I remain of the view that, given what you have related so far, you could not be faulted for answering "no", you do not have and have not had a "serious" mental illness. Sure, you could answer "yes" and go on to explain, but in your shoes, I would eschew that approach. It will might lead to a whole new line of inquiry that will not likely be of benefit to you. But, of course, entirely your call.

In the end, I suppose we can say that, in your situation, there is no answer that is the only possible answer to the question. In my assessment, you would be on safe ground and your position entirely defensible were you to answer "no". If your comfort level tells you to answer every question in the manner least favourable to your position, thinking that doing so makes you appear scrupulously honest, then by all means, act accordingly.

 

[xendron]

Was it the psychologist who told you the diagnosis is PTSD? To be confident in the dx, I would prefer the diagnostician to be a psychiatrist. This doctor has equivocated, saying you can answer "yes" or "no". Given that, it would appear that this person does not see your mental illness, to the extent that one exists, to be "serious". I remain of the view that, given what you have related so far, you could not be faulted for answering "no", you do not have and have not had a "serious" mental illness. Sure, you could answer "yes" and go on to explain, but in your shoes, I would eschew that approach. It will might lead to a whole new line of inquiry that will not likely be of benefit to you. But, of course, entirely your call.

In the end, I suppose we can say that, in your situation, there is no answer that is the only possible answer to the question. In my assessment, you would be on safe ground and your position entirely defensible were you to answer "no". If your comfort level tells you to answer every question in the manner least favourable to your position, thinking that doing so makes you appear scrupulously honest, then by all means, act accordingly.

Thank you for all your responses and help. Yes, it was a phychologist who gave me the "diagnosis" and the conversation I have referred to earlier was with the same psychologist too, after the assessment interview.

 

[xendron]

Thank you for all your responses and help. Yes, it was a phychologist who gave me the "diagnosis" and the conversation I have referred to earlier was with the same psychologist too, after the assessment interview.

Was it the psychologist who told you the diagnosis is PTSD? To be confident in the dx, I would prefer the diagnostician to be a psychiatrist. This doctor has equivocated, saying you can answer "yes" or "no". Given that, it would appear that this person does not see your mental illness, to the extent that one exists, to be "serious". I remain of the view that, given what you have related so far, you could not be faulted for answering "no", you do not have and have not had a "serious" mental illness. Sure, you could answer "yes" and go on to explain, but in your shoes, I would eschew that approach. It will might lead to a whole new line of inquiry that will not likely be of benefit to you. But, of course, entirely your call.

In the end, I suppose we can say that, in your situation, there is no answer that is the only possible answer to the question. In my assessment, you would be on safe ground and your position entirely defensible were you to answer "no". If your comfort level tells you to answer every question in the manner least favourable to your position, thinking that doing so makes you appear scrupulously honest, then by all means, act accordingly.

I got the report from the Psychologist and he diagnosed me with PTSD and Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, based on DSM5, as a result of MVA. The report also mentions that I was still able to finish school with good grades and work full time. It says my condition to be "moderate" depression. I answered "No" to the mental health condition question on the form but I am anxious if they can charge wlme with Misinterpretation. I talked to RCIC consultant and the doctor, as I had mentioned earlier and they both basically directed me to each other saying that they don't have necessary knowledge to answer this question. Today, I talked to my consultant again and they told me that it's upto me to answer and said that to them my condition does not seem serious as I was able to complete studies and working full time, and asked me to consult the doctor for the answer. Please clarify, based on this information, if I answered "No" correctly or would you change your opinion considering this information. I would greatly appreciate your response. Thank You

 

[Kaibigan]

I got the report from the Psychologist and he diagnosed me with PTSD and Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, based on DSM5, as a result of MVA. The report also mentions that I was still able to finish school with good grades and work full time. It says my condition to be "moderate" depression. I answered "No" to the mental health condition question on the form but I am anxious if they can charge wlme with Misinterpretation. I talked to RCIC consultant and the doctor, as I had mentioned earlier and they both basically directed me to each other saying that they don't have necessary knowledge to answer this question. Today, I talked to my consultant again and they told me that it's upto me to answer and said that to them my condition does not seem serious as I was able to complete studies and working full time, and asked me to consult the doctor for the answer. Please clarify, based on this information, if I answered "No" correctly or would you change your opinion considering this information. I would greatly appreciate your response. Thank You

The present information does not really prompt me to change my view. If your mental state, has not negatively impacted your life, as appears to be the case, I do not see it as "serious". Other factors would be, in my view, whether the psychologist has suggested that you need treatment for your mental condition or if he/she has suggested you be seen by a psychiatrist, or if he/she has suggested your condition might deteriorate. As I understand it, the psychologist has seen some sx of a mental health condition, while noting that you were still able to finish school with good grades and work full time.

Again, I do not see that you could be faulted for a "no" answer. From what you have described, I, as a layman, would certainly not regard your condition as "serious". If you are functioning well without treatment, treatment is not recommended or proposed, it is difficult to regard it as "serious". Even if the IRCC sees it in a different light, I certainly see no scope for calling a negative answer as a misrepresentation. All that could be said it that it's a matter about which reasonable people might disagree.

And again, if this situation is causing you anxiety (a mental state itself), is fuelling your PTSD and depression, driving your mental state into the "serious" range, then perhaps you want to follow up with the IRCC and tell them all of this has caused you anxious consideration and lay it all out. I would not, but that's me. I am not sure you can get further and better advice on this vexing topic. The only way forward that might put it definitely to rest would be a consultation with a qualified psychiatrist who could offer an opinion. Even then, what a psychiatrist sees as serious might not be congruent with the IRCC's assessment. However, if the psychiatrist says it's not serious, I think the IRCC would have extreme difficulty in maintaining a contrary view, at least in going so far as to call you out for "misrepresentation".

 

[armoured]

The report also mentions that I was still able to finish school with good grades and work full time.

Just to support statements of others: in this situation, with no serious impact on your functioning nor, it appears, any serious indication that it will do in near or long term, I don't believe anyone responsible would mark this as serious in the sense IRCC uses it.

If you believe it is serious, you can certainly mark that - but I don't think most doctors would.

 

[xendron]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate all your replies. I just heard back from an immigration lawyer and he also seconded your opinions.

 

[DEVANSH_PATEL]

You don't appear to have a serious mental condition.

If I had inactive tuberculosis should I answer YES or NO in the serious disease question?
Please help and thanks

 

[DEVANSH_PATEL]

The real answer is no one is really sure. Canadian immigration law does not define what does "serious" mean. So if your day to day activities are not compromised "no" is perhaps the right answer.

If I had inactive tuberculosis should I answer YES or NO in the serious disease question?
Please help and thanks

 

[DEVANSH_PATEL]

I had the doctor tell me that your diagnosis is PTSD but for more details I need to examine the questioners and the assessment notes in more detail. When I asked him about that question about immigration forms, he told me that you can write "no" and then he also said that you can write "yes" and mention that you have symptoms but it does not affect your daily life as you were still able to graduate school and complete your degree and also work full-time right now, that will be the most truthful and safest answer. Then I talked to an immigration consultant and they told me that if you write yes then you should be ready with proof proving what you have written. That's why I am confused about this, because the very proof is that I am still able to continue my regular life.

If I had inactive tuberculosis should I answer YES or NO in the serious disease question?
Please help and thanks