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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| nero wrote: |
Anti depressants tend to be used for people suffering terrible depression and/or mental illness. Why would Korea want those people here teaching? In their mind you could potentially become a huge liability if you cannot adjust to a new environment.
So yeah, that is their policy and I can understand where they are coming from. |
What if an individual taking antidepressants is a smarter, more intellegent person if you dig beneath the extreme veneer of supposed "mentally ill". I understand where they are coming from, but you won't catch me sympathizing with thier superficial way of seeing things. Was there ever a study done on teachers on antidepressantsfreaking out? I wonder if they would find anything significant? |
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iggyb
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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In American, anti-depressants ARE handed out like candy. Meaning - I'm sure there are plenty of people out there in the US taking them or who have taken them that would be just as good at teaching in Korea as the next guy.
But, if you legitimately need anti-depressants - if you are clinically depressed - then going halfway around the world to teach in Korea probably isn't a good idea.
I don't agree with blackballing someone just because they took them in the past, but I would probably pass on hiring someone who was currently on them who hasn't lived and worked in Korea before. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| plchron wrote: |
| Just lie about that on the application. It is none of their business. |
Yes, in this case you have to.
How moral is it for a certain group of people to be left out of relatively lucrative positions and be most likely dumped in less lucrative positions just because they tell about having depression. |
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allan of asia
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Here, there, everywhere
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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This is just my opinion, but yes Western countries over prescribe these kinds of things for sure, especially in the USA where prescription meds can be advertised on TV (i think this is absolutely appalling, what you need is down to a doctor, not you going in and asking for them like a new brand of perfume, but anyway).
If someone has been on anti depressants, this means at some point life has got too much for them, I know often through no fault of their own (i have more than one bipolar person in my family FYI) but thats by the by, they have had trouble coping with life. Moving to another country, another culture and then taking on a job that you may not have any experience in doing (accept my apologies experienced/qualified teachers) is extremely stressful and you need to be strong to be able to adapt quickly. I thankfully havent suffered any mental health issues in my life (YET) unlike one of my parents and several cousins but I think in their cases being around friends and family who loved them was a big help and being overseas would have harmed them further.
I agree with their policy that if you are currently taking them, you shouldn't be taken on, after all why choose someone who has more potential to be a liability than others, but if it was in far past and you are off them and all sorted, its a bit silly as it can happen to anyone at any point in their lives and some people make a full recovery and never need them again.
So, OP if you think you are better now and you think, REALLY THINK you can handle it...just put down what they want to hear. |
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Pablo
Joined: 15 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:53 am Post subject: |
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| People who have never been prescribed antidepressants and post advice on antidepressants write the most incredibly clueless tosh. |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| iggyb wrote: |
But, if you legitimately need anti-depressants - if you are clinically depressed - then going halfway around the world to teach in Korea probably isn't a good idea.
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The US over prescribes.
Korea under prescribes.
It's none of their business.
If you co-teach for long you'll work with someone who will make you look like the picture of mental health. If they don't make you crazy this may, in fact, boost your self image. 
All kidding aside, the post above (iggyb) may be the most important one for you to make note of. Feelings of isolation and depression are common. Communicating within this culture can be very difficult for foreigners. Korea has made for any number of stressed out or depressed Native teachers. I know someone in Seoul who is a counselor and treating foreigners is something of a growth industry here. |
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nero
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| sml7285 wrote: |
| nero wrote: |
Okay, first of all recruiters/public schools/immigration don't give a toss whether you are on anti depressants because your dog died, you hate your job or you are stuck in a 'rut.' They simply don't care.
Most countries aren't so liberal with their use of anti depressants as USA. Anti depressants tend to be used for people suffering terrible depression and/or mental illness. Why would Korea want those people here teaching? In their mind you could potentially become a huge liability if you cannot adjust to a new environment.
So yeah, that is their policy and I can understand where they are coming from. |
You obviously have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. |
Umm, in the country I am from anti depressants are prescribed for those who are suffering terrible debilitating depression - not those who have been through a divorce and can't handle it. So, yes, i very DO know what I am talking about.
Where are you from? |
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| nero wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| nero wrote: |
Okay, first of all recruiters/public schools/immigration don't give a toss whether you are on anti depressants because your dog died, you hate your job or you are stuck in a 'rut.' They simply don't care.
Most countries aren't so liberal with their use of anti depressants as USA. Anti depressants tend to be used for people suffering terrible depression and/or mental illness. Why would Korea want those people here teaching? In their mind you could potentially become a huge liability if you cannot adjust to a new environment.
So yeah, that is their policy and I can understand where they are coming from. |
You obviously have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. |
Umm, in the country I am from anti depressants are prescribed for those who are suffering terrible debilitating depression - not those who have been through a divorce and can't handle it. So, yes, i very DO know what I am talking about.
Where are you from? |
no zero, you don't have any clue what you're talking about. |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| nero wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| nero wrote: |
Okay, first of all recruiters/public schools/immigration don't give a toss whether you are on anti depressants because your dog died, you hate your job or you are stuck in a 'rut.' They simply don't care.
Most countries aren't so liberal with their use of anti depressants as USA. Anti depressants tend to be used for people suffering terrible depression and/or mental illness. Why would Korea want those people here teaching? In their mind you could potentially become a huge liability if you cannot adjust to a new environment.
So yeah, that is their policy and I can understand where they are coming from. |
You obviously have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. |
Umm, in the country I am from anti depressants are prescribed for those who are suffering terrible debilitating depression - not those who have been through a divorce and can't handle it. So, yes, i very DO know what I am talking about.
Where are you from? |
I'm not sure where you're from but certainly in the US, anti-depressants could certainly be properly prescribed for depression that's caused by a divorce.
Diagnosing depression and prescribing medication is a complex skill that usually evolves over time for people depending on a range of factors not the least of which is a psych history. |
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iggyb
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| Anti-depressants and anxiety pills are handed out by doctors in the US all the time for minor reasons. |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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I was specifically responding to a broad comment about divorce not being significant enough to prescribe anti-depressants. "Divorce" alone isn't enough information to a make judgement on.
I think in a previous post here I said the US is prescription happy.
Unless you've worked in the field (which I have) it's difficult to begin describing how complicated evaluating "depression" or other mental health problems can be. |
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iggyb
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| I was responding to the same thing - that anti-depressants are only handed out to those suffering from the worst types of depression. That isn't true. |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| iggyb wrote: |
| I was responding to the same thing - that anti-depressants are only handed out to those suffering from the worst types of depression. That isn't true. |
That's a very broad statement and I think you are correct. |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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Texas2Korea
Joined: 12 Jun 2012
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:45 am Post subject: |
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This is the OP speaking. Thanks everyone for your help, advice, two cents, and opinions. There's some good information to take away for sure.
For the record, I am not worried about going med-free. That has been on the agenda since going on medication, and I alluded to this in my original post.
Some of you brought up a point pertaining to feelings of isolation in Korea, culture shock, that sort of thing. I don't know if any one out there can relate to this feeling, but I feel more alive, more excited about the here and now when I am some place new, when everything is different. This will not be my first time in Korea (I visited for 10 days in May), nor will it be my first time living outside the US.
Thanks again for all your help. |
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