Job Discussion Forums

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

From what I have been reading, Japan is quite "unforgiving" in terms of it's attitude to mental health.

How would disclosure of a "minor" mental health condition affect one's chances of being issued with a work visa?

thomthom · Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 125

So many people suffer from depression or anxiety at some stage or other that it is really not worth officially mentioning. If it's minor, as you say.

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

How about cyclothymia?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I would caution anyone with this or a stronger bipolar illness from coming to Japan, especially if they require medication. Think of how that sort of condition affects the working situation -- sometimes stressful, depending on the person's personality and their experience teaching elsewhere, and on the actual work situation.

Not only that, but pre-existing conditions are not what one wants to bring to the national health insurance people. Even diabetes (I think) needs to be diagnosed again before meds can be dispensed. Diagnosing any mental health disorder in a country with such a different view on mental health (not to mention a language barrier) might be a bad experience.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2012/11/25/books/shedding-light-on-problems-with-japans-psychiatric-care/#.USAL0WeCWSo
http://www.japanpsychiatrist.com/Abstracts/TravelMed.pdf
Highly functioning bipolar
disorder, alcoholism, and even drug abuse (cocaine,
amphetamine) are not uncommon in some successful
expatriates, particularly in the finance industry. For persons already in Japan who become seriously ill,
this may be controllable and treatable as an outpatient.
However, if psychiatric hospitalization is necessary, then
unless the person is extremely fluent in Japanese and has
the Japanese National Health Insurance, the hospital is
likely to coordinate with the respective Embassy to have
the person repatriated as soon as possible. Persons who are
not easily hospitalized may be helped by SOS International
who can often escort the person (usually medicated) on
a plane back home. Use of the Japanese National Health Insurance only
allows visits to licensed psychiatrists (not counselors or
therapists), and these visits are usually limited to
10e15 min long because of the crowded nature of the
clinics. Even assuming no language barrier this is usually
not adequate. These factors result in a number of difficulties
for the Western person to receive adequate psychiatric
care in Japan making the availability of modern Western
psychotherapy and psychiatric care all that more important
for the international community in Tokyo.

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

My query is not about provision of healthcare or any related matter.

You can find more stressful teaching jobs in England than you will ever find in Japan.

The British Council offer a guaranteed interview to anyone declaring a disability. They are advertising a post in Tokyo.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

This still applies:
"I would caution anyone with this or a stronger bipolar illness from coming to Japan".

Looking at it strictly from an employer's point of view, why would they want to risk problems when there are 99 other candidates waiting in line without such (admitted) issues?

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

I've taught EFL for 12 years. My four years with the British Council were, by far, the most stressful. I only worked in one centre but I was widely connected with others near and far and the situation was very similar in many other centres. They pay you well but expect you to work for it. The BC has such a reputation that students also expect you to work for it.

I don't think disclosure of such an issue would affect your work visa. Once you have sponsorship and the BC working to process your visa, it should all go according to plan.

But I would take seriously what people are saying about local attitudes and language barriers (even in Tokyo) regarding your condition. In my 6 years there, I found the Japanese very unforgiving for anything that fell outside their (narrow) range of daily experience.

And if stress is likely to make your condition worse, I would reconsider applying for the BC.

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

JerkyBoy · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 485

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

The company are the ones that will sponsor your visa. I don't think they have an obligation to mention anything about your mental health (anyone know differently?). If they've offered you a job they will want your visa processed without problem, so they wouldn't do anything that might threaten that.

It sounds to me like there's no problem with mentioning it to the BC to get the interview. But I wouldn't mention it to any other prospective employers unless it would also be advantageous to your prospects.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

In order to qualify for a guaranteed interview you must have an illness, disability etc that has had serious long term adverse effects on your ability to work or on your daily life. The legislation is quite specific and detailed. So if the problem is as minor as you say, you won't qualify anyway. If you can convince them that it is serious enough for you to qualify, then you need to consider the potential ramifications of that. If you don't get this position, it will be on your record with the BC (and they do keep records) and could cause difficulties with future applications.