[sak9645]

In the U.S., mild depression and anxiety are not considered "mental illness". And seeking counseling or taking medication for these disorders is actually considered positive, since these actions can significantly improve functioning.

Many people also seek counseling for other reasons, such as overcoming a fear of flying, developing confidence about public speaking, enhancing communication in their marriage, learning to negotiate better in the workplace, dealing with grief over a miscarriage, and so on. Again, these sorts of issues are not considered "mental illness", and seeking help with them is viewed positively in the U.S.

In many of the countries from which Americans adopt, however, there is a totally different view. In those countries, people don't seek counseling or take medication for anxiety or depression unless they are well and truly "crazy". For one thing, they usually can't afford these "luxuries" when they can barely afford to put food on the table. For another, there is often a cultural bias against discussing personal problems with strangers or admitting "weakness."

As a result, when foreign officials hear that a prospective parent has visited a psychiatrist or psychologist, or has taken Prozac or Xanax, they become alarmed. What they automatically assume is that the person has a serious mental illness, and is too unstable to parent.

American adoption professionals have tried to educate foreign officials about how the use of mental health services in the U.S., but success has been very limited. Most of the foreign judges and such have not lived in the U.S., and haven't experienced the differences in culture, so they remain skeptical.

Also, unfortunately, there have been cases in which parents WERE accepted with a history of mental health treatment, and subsequently committed suicide or were involved in child abuse. It is also possible that SOME agencies approved people who should not have been approved, such as people with fairly severe depression that was not well controlled. Situations like these make foreign adoption authorities very reluctant to approve parents with ANY history of depression or anxiety.

If you have mild anxiety or depression and have been treated successfully for it, you MAY, unfortunately find that some countries will not accept you. But there are likely to be others that will. Make a list of the countries of interest to you, and then begin talking with a variety of agencies about whether you can be accepted. If you already have an approved homestudy, which has addressed the issue of mental health and found you well qualified to parent, all the better.

Sharon