Job Discussion Forums

[ideagirl68]

Does anyone know any specifics on the overseas medical check for the temp residency permit and the rejection reasons on mental illness? I have been taking medicine for a chemical imbalance causing depression for many years now. I don't "suffer" or lack anything from this "disorder" because of the medication. Is this something for which I would be rejected for the Z Visa & temp resident permit?

I wouldn't want to end up in China, have the exam and be sent home on the next plane.

Also, are there any Asian countries that do not have such stringent health restrictions? I discovered this as a problem when previously seeking work in South Korea.

[Opiate]

Do you really think it is so easy to diagnose a mental disorder? If it were I imagine China could wave good bye to a third of its foreign teachers.

That said, I personally do not believe this is a country where somebody who is mentally imbalanced can thrive. Well....as a teacher anyway, I have seen plenty of mentally imbalanced bosses.

[Miajiayou]

I seem to remember the phrase "drug-induced psychosis" from the form.

I don't think they ask too many strict questions about prescription medication. They make sure you don't have HIV or an impending heart attack and send you on your way. I wouldn't bring it up, if I were you.

I have no experience with it, but I've heard it said that psychotropic drugs can treat but not cure. Medicated or not, I would say anyone who has or has had serious thoughts of suicide should probably not go abroad alone in general and definitely not to China specifically. Not saying this applies to you, just seemed a good place to state the glaringly obvious.

[vikeologist]

Some of the attendant issues were discussed in this thread

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=76859&highlight=mental+health

Take everything with a grain of salt. that said, I thought most of the comments were very helpful and intelligent.

I will try to find out about the OP's key question, are they likely to get a visa, but I'm not sure that it will be possible to give a definitive answer. I would suggest that there would probably not be a problem, and you shouldn't dismiss the idea of teaching in China.

[ideagirl68]

Thanks for providing this thread, it was an insightful eye-opener, even though my specific question still remains...

[rogerwilco]

[twilothunder]

[Zero]

If you don't tell, they won't know.

[Zimmer]

If you ever need the school's help buying meds they'll know.

[Phat0]

What would you do if you find yourself without medication for a few days ?
What if you found the medication that you need in China, but it is ineffective or harmful because it is fake ?
Support from friends and family can be even more important to people suffering from depression. Who will be your support network in China ?



Wise advice.

The friends you make here are mostly friends of convenience. Not always anyone you can really count on. Just make sure you can either bring or get the correct meds in China, before you commit. Or you'll feel very lonely at your worst moments. This place can really get to a person at times. I love it here personally but it can be really frustrating dealing with some of the day to day issues.



.[/quote]

[Miles Smiles]

What the Chinese are worried about are psychoses and communicable diseases.

It's unlikely that YOUR doctor will make note of your depression on your home-country medical evaluation, and the Chinese won't administer a test to check you for depression. (There are depression surveys that allow clinicians to evaluate depression in the west, but the Chinese won't even think about depression).

Here's a possible problem: If you have health insurance, will your insurance company allow you to have a year's supply of medication to take with you? While many antibiotics and medicines for diabetes and high blood pressure are readily available over the counter in China, I highly doubt that you'll be able to get what you need over the counter. Your medicine may not even be available at all in China. That's the big problem.

[Miles Smiles]

Ideagirl,

Contrary to what others may say, many drugs are NOT available at all pharmacies in China, and many drugs aren't even available from pharmacies but from doctors. I highly suggest that you call someone in the government capital city in your country and ask for direction.

[vikeologist]

I said that I would find out about the Op's key question, would they be able to get a visa?

Of course i could be wrong because we don't have much information, but we don't believe that it would be a problem. We don't however have any experience, proof or ability to be certain. Also i guess we'd advise any such applicant not to go out of their way to give too much information on the health check form.

I don't dispute for one moment the validity and accuracy of everything that has been said in this thread. I would however give a counter-balancing opinion.

When i mentioned this health problem my uni didn't shy away. . Actually it would be more accurate to say that we're more worried about applicants hiding things in their application. I look at what information is missing. It's better to be up front about any issues. I think that my Uni probably does have a few deep rooted prejudices. In fact i have one deep rooted prejudice. Actually you'd better make that two now i think about it.

So I'm not denying that some Unis would be terrified about taking someone on who was managing depression or whatever the approprioate terminology is. However, the reaction of my boss when i discussed this was essentially a shrug of the shoulders, bearing in mind that this was a vague theoretical discussion, and as far as we know no one taking medication for depression has applied.

We do worry about depression though. It's a big danger with foreign teachers; all foreign teachers. Culture shock can hit you hard, and I feel a huge weight of responsibility for anyone that comes to work with us. I'm just saying that based on the very small amount of information that the OP gave, this would not be a red flag for us, and I think any cautious and thought out application would bear fruit with other Unis as well.

Of course we'd prefer qualified, experienced applicants with absolutely no weakneses, problems or faults at all. If that's you, then we're the perfect school for you.

[boohoohooonceagain]

[Lobster]