Job Discussion Forums

Ishi · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 15

I am wondering if there are any immigration issues to be concerned with regarding mental health issues. I take medication for anxiety/depression. I was planning on going to teach in Korea, but after doing some research it seems that they will not accept anyone with mental health issues. Is Japan any different? Thanks for helping me with this. Oh, also, if it depends on the employer I would be interested in your feedback on this, too. I have an interview with AEON and if they rule me out automatically because of my anxiety/depression I would rather not waste my time and money traveling to the interview.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Mental Health and Immigration

Immigration won't care. Employers might ask, but you can tell them whatever you want and they have to take the statement as is.

If it's well managed then I would advise not to mention it at any point.

If it isn't well managed then consider carefully the situation you will be in in Japan because mental health care in Japan is spotty at best. The last thing you want is to have problems while there and be unable to access care and/or support if needed.

Ishi · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 15

Thanks G Cthulhu. It is well managed but I do take medication for it. Do you know if medication is available in Japan?

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

I agree with G Cthulhu, and in addition I will say that unless you feel very, very confident that medication will be effective, reconsider traveling anywhere abroad for long-term, especially if you have never lived overseas. The different culture of business and lifestyle may be overwhelming otherwise. Really think this through.

Medication might be available (nobody here is a doctor as far as I know), but you might also have to be diagnosed from scratch before you can get it. Not easy to do in a foreign language. Also, the meds will probably go by totally different names here, and dosages of many medications are often prescribed in weaker levels. Keep that strongly in mind!

Ishi · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 15

Thanks to both of you for your advice!

G Cthulhu · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:34 am Post subject:

ironclad80 · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 53

Why tell them anything they don't NEED to know? Prejudice comes in many forms and in today's job market you want as few strikes against you as possible. Even if someone says mental illness won't count you out, that doesn't mean they won't. I've been taking meds for over 15 years, continue to do so in Korea and function just fine. Isn't the purpose of the meds to TREAT your condition?

Only you can decide if living abroad is right for you. Many people will say you are more vulnerable to culture shock because of your disposition but I think there are other factors. Are you open-minded? Have you traveled a lot? Studied or lived abroad before? Easily miss friends/family? Studied the language of the country you intend to inhabit? Get lonely easily? Like different kinds of food?

Unless you are taking some really obscure med, I'd say the chances of it being available in Japan and/or Korea are very likely. It may have a different name but a doctor can find its counterpart by identifying the chemical. The only thing I noticed is things tend to come in smaller doses but if you tell your doc what you take in the U.S. he/she can just double it up.

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

I have done some research on this topic. Antidepressant drugs including: Celexa, Prozac, and effexor are illegal in Japan. You can not bring these drugs into the country with you.

Paxil and Zoloft are 2 popular antidepressant drugs that are legal in Japan.

Also, Lexapro just gained approval in Japan in April.

Sources

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressants_in_Japan

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/lundbeck-japan-idUSLDE73L03X20110422

The Wikipedia article lists Lexapro as illegal in Japan, however that information is outdated as you will see in the next link.

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

You also must bring a copy of the prescription, and a letter from your doctor stating the medications purpose.

ironclad80 · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 53

Wow, PROZAC is ILLEGAL? That's insane! No pun intended.
Prozac is probably the most prescribed anti-depressant in the entire
western world. I have a hard time believing this. It's almost the same
chemical makeup as Paxil and Zoloft which ARE legal in Japan according to your post.

Furthermore, immigration officers aren't pharmacologists. They aren't going to discern the difference between Fluoxetine which is Prozac (and probably written on your bottle) and Paxil, etc. These aren't some hard street drugs. I've done quite a bit of traveling and was never asked twice about any prescriptions anywhere including Japan. I'm actually going there Saturday for vacation.

CarolinaBen · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 78

I am not sure how big the search is at immigration, only that it is listed as an illegal drug in Japan............ Japan has what is known as drug lag......Drugs get approved much later than in western countries.

From US Embassy in Japan Website
Prescription Medications

Some U.S. prescription medications cannot be imported into Japan, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. Japanese customs officials have detained travelers carrying prohibited items, sometimes for several weeks. Japanese customs officials do not make on-the-spot "humanitarian" exceptions for medicines that are prohibited in Japan.

Some popular medications legal in the U.S., such as Prozac and Viagra, are sold illegally in Japan on the black market. You are subject to arrest and imprisonment if you purchase such drugs illegally while in Japan.

ironclad80 · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 53

I've never been asked at any airport including a Japanese airport to open or show any prescription medications. Sometimes I even had them in unmarked bottles or bags. But lately I've been bringing documentation just in case. I think the focus at airports, especially these days is weapons or things that can be used as such.

For what it's worth I take Cymbalta and Lamictal. I hope to one day live in Japan (maybe even next year) when I save up enough money. Korea just isn't the same. I hope my meds are available there. Cymbalta is relatively new when it comes to anti-depressants and Lamictal is used to prevent seizures, help people quit smoking and in my case used as a mood stabilizer.

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

It's customs, not immigration, that will detain you with medication.

Be very sure you understand the regulations, too. You may never have been caught, but who is to say that they won't select you for a random thorough inspection? Then what will you say, especially with bags of unmarked drugs?

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html
Prescription Medications

Some U.S. prescription medications cannot be imported into Japan, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. Japanese customs officials have detained travelers carrying prohibited items, sometimes for several weeks. Japanese customs officials do not make on-the-spot "humanitarian" exceptions for medicines that are prohibited in Japan.

Generally, up to one month's supply of allowable prescription medicine can be brought into Japan. Travelers must bring a copy of their doctor's prescription as well as a letter stating the purpose of the drug. Travelers who must carry more than one month's supply (except prohibited drugs and controlled drugs), or are carrying syringes (pumps), are required to obtain a so-called "Yakkan Shoumei", or an import certificate in advance, and show the "Yakkan Shoumei" certificate with your prescription medicines at the Customs.

For more information about bringing medicines into Japan and how to obtain a "Yakkan Shoumei" Certificate, please visit the website of the Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/import/index.html
http://ask.metafilter.com/169725/Psych-meds-in-Japan
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=835&catid=23&subcatid=151#15
http://www.japanpsychiatrist.com/Abstracts/TravelMed.pdf

Calico · Joined: 20 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

I have a couple of coworkers at a fairly big eikaiwa chain who have their mental illnesses on record (one is bipolar and the other is also has anxiety/depression). Both are on medication. They were both hired without any problem as far as I know, but recently one of them was asked some pretty off-stuff by management re: if they take their medication regularly. What I'm trying to say is that announcing your issues from the beginning you should still be able to get hired, but, they still know, and will probably bring your anxiety/depression up every time something goes wrong even if it's not related to it.

I have depression as well, but i do not medicate (anymore) and my employer does not know. I chose not to tell them because I felt that it was none-of-their-beeswax, and it's one of those things that even if they''re "open minded" they still automatically associate you with it all the time. (If I was on medication though, I would probably tell them just so they know in case a problem arose with my medication.)

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Are you taking any benzos for your anxiety? Make sure you know the proper names for what you're taking. For example Nitrazepam (Mogadon) is called Benzalin (ベンザリン) in Japan and most Japanese doctors wouldn't know what Mogadon is. Ime you shouldn't have much trouble getting your meds here but it's hard to say for sure without knowing what exactly you're taking .