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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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 Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:17 pm Post subject: Work visa and mental health |
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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? |
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thomthom
Joined: 20 May 2011
Posts: 125
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| How about cyclothymia? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:52 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:48 am Post subject: |
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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?
| Quote: |
| You can find more stressful teaching jobs in England than you will ever find in Japan. |
I won't debate you on this one, except to say that you don't seem to be taking into account the language barrier here, among other things. |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
This still applies:
"I would caution anyone with this or a stronger bipolar illness from coming to Japan". |
Sure, but I would also caution you over overextending yourself with regard to advice on this front since you are not a medical practioner, mental health worker, or expert on the bipolar mood disorder spectrum. For instance, your mention of meds is way off target. To the best of my knowledge, few of those with cyclothymia are treated with medication.
Also, with regard to work-related stress, most serious teaching jobs I have had (in different countries, but particularly in England) have been totally impractical in terms of workload, number of hours and stress. In certain cases, these jobs pushed the boundaries of human endurance. To think that Japan could somehow be more stressful is a myth, at least as far as teaching goes.
| Glenski wrote: |
| 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? |
I'll break it down so as to be more explicit:
F/T British Council in Japan posts are almost NEVER advertised. Even P/T posts are hard to come by. Turnover is very low indeed.
They are advertising now and the deadline is tomorrow. The competition for said posts will, I imagine, be ridiculously high, to the extent that I would never be shortlisted unless I get a guaranteed interview due to a disability. This is due to the BC's equal opportunities programme where they positively discriminate in favour of those with disabilities. However, let's suppose I got the interview, got the job but then encountered problems over the work visa.
Which is better? Disclosure and a punt or missing out on the opportunity/ keeping one's head down?
Last edited by JerkyBoy on Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JerkyBoy
Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| I won't debate you on this one, except to say that you don't seem to be taking into account the language barrier here, among other things. |
Yes, of course, that can be disconcerting. But having worked in numerous countries, encountering a language barrier is the norm rather than the exception.
I have studied Japanese upto JLPT N4 and am keen to learn more. It should be OK. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: Work visa and mental health |
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| JerkyBoy wrote: |
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? |
Why would you even bother to post this thread if you're just going come off as insulting anyone who doesn't tell you "yeah, it's all good!"?
| Quote: |
| In certain cases, these jobs pushed the boundaries of human endurance. To think that Japan could somehow be more stressful is a myth, at least as far | | |
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