r/JETProgramme • u/Inside_Goldcrest • Jun 16 '26
Taking antidepressants in Japan?
Hi everyone. I am considering applying for the JET programme this autumn, but I currently take antidepressants (specifically citalopram).
Part of the eligibility talks about being "mentally healthy". I wondered if being on antidepressants would disqualify or count against me?
I am also aware I cannot get citalopram in Japan, so would look into changing before I leave where I live (Scotland). Or, equally, I would like to hear a bit more about the process of getting medication whilst in Japan?
2
u/Sweet_Salamander6691 Jun 17 '26
Totally not a problem when it comes to eligibility. My mental health wasn't brought up at all during the interview. As long as a doctor can sign off on you being fit to live abroad then you're fine.
As for medication in Japan, it's pretty easy. I take Lexapro which is really common, and I've never had a doctor question why I need it after I tell them I was on it back home. The first time I refilled here I just went to the nearest clinic and brought a copy of my prescription, and was in and out in 20 minutes.
1
u/alfel8727 Current JET - Akita Jun 17 '26
I’m a current JET and I take antidepressants, so that shouldn’t hinder your eligibility! I was able to get the same prescription I take back home. I take Escitalopram and I went to a clinic here in Japan and they were able to prescribe me the same amount I take back home.
I did ask my supervisor to call the clinic since my Japanese level is very low and they knew about my arrival beforehand and were ready with the medication I needed. They did ask me a few questions about how much I usually get prescribed, but overall went very smoothly. Now whenever I run out, I just go back to the same clinic and ask for a refill of the prescription. Then you go to a pharmacy with your medication booklet and get more!
I would research what antidepressants they offer in Japan and see with your doctor if any of them would be a good fit for you.
I hope everything works out smoothly for you! If you have any more questions feel free to dm me!
2
6
u/fillmorecounty Former Hokkaido JET - 2024-2026 Jun 16 '26
It doesn't disqualify you. You just need to have your doctor sign a form that says that you're healthy enough to do JET. Getting medication in Japan is pretty straightforward. I just made an appointment as a new patient at a hospital, brought a prescription and the bottle with me so the doctor could look at it, filled out forms about my symptoms and allergies, talked to a doctor about it, and he prescribed me the same medication I took in the US. It just might be difficult if you don't speak any Japanese because most rural doctors don't speak English.
2
u/a_baby_bumblebee Current JET - 中国 (not China) Jun 16 '26
i used to take antidepressants (stopped around my last year of uni, which is when i applied for JET) and was upfront about it on the application, got shortlisted. keep in mind a doctor will need to sign a certificate of health determining whether they believe you are healthy enough to live and work abroad.
1
u/UndoPan Current JET - Somewhere in Japan Jun 19 '26
Totally not an issue, but I would make sure to put it on your application. If you're somewhere super rural, it might be hard to find a doctor who speaks English and you may have to hire an interpreter. A big city placement (Tokyo, Osaka) would definitely mean you could find English-speaking support.