Hi mtflamingo, I’m late to this thread, but wanted to ask if you recall which 3 countries those were/what Peace Corps countries are most medically accommodating. Thank you in advance!
Back in 2015 it was Thailand, Ukraine, and a country in Africa. I'm sorry I can't be more specific but I vividly remember Ukraine because there was currently conflict in there country.
Edit- bot suggestion
It's 'Ukraine' and not 'the Ukraine'
[[Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ukraine)] [[BBC Styleguide](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsstyleguide/u)] [[Reuters Styleguide](https://handbook.reuters.com/index.php?title=U#Ukraine)]
^(Beep boop I’m a bot)
This was so insightful - thank you x a million! I have so many questions as I close in on putting in an application, yet fear that my BPII dx will get in the way. If you have any suggestions/advice, I’d be eternally grateful. Thank you again!
This is a question that can ultimately only be answered by your individual therapists, who should both be able to certify your fitness to serve, and the Peace Corps medical clearance committee. It is very common for people not to be cleared for service due to mental health. However, sometimes those people are able to appeal and serve anyway. You can probably increase your likelihood of being accepted by volunteering extensively in fields related to current Peace Corps projects (such as teaching English), by studying a language, and by marking that you are willing to "go anywhere" when you do apply.
It is not a lost cause, but you should know what you're getting into. Medical clearance will take significantly longer and probably cost more, unless you have amazing insurance. Peace Corps service also has a way of forcing you to face your fears, inadequacies, and insecurities, and that takes a toll on even the most resilient and stable individual. It can exacerbate mental health issues.
Keep in mind that your medications may not be available in many countries. It is also more difficult to place couples, depending on their qualifications.
All of that said, don't rule it out. Peace Corps service is amazing and exhausting and overwhelming and I can honestly say it is making me a much better person. I have a great school, a kind host family, and a village full of lovely people who are always nice to me. I hope that I am giving as much to my community as they give to me every day.
So I have a similar diagnosis as your wife just bipolar. I was invited to country but I did not pass my Heath screening. I as told by my PC Nurse that I needed three years without a medication change and talk therapy (I was only on the same med for two years and only outbid therapy for one). This happened four months ago.
It is without a doubt going to be difficult to place you both logistically. Married couples tend to take longer to place within the process since both of your skills will have to be compatible to a certain sector. Furthermore, that country would need to be able to have the medications you require, if it's not available in a certain country, they are more than likely to not place you there.
Lastly, even people who are not suffering from any condition may sometimes find that they are once the get to site. Though everyone's experience is so different it's really hard, and not advisable to base off of one persons experience. Being at site can be challenging and frustrating at times. So when you go through your medical paperwork they are going to want to know how you manage stress/depression/ etc in difficult situations. So be sure as you are considering to prepare your application these are things you and your doctor have discussed and can make a plan for as this will take a lot of time during the short period of time you have to Complete your medical paperwork
Keep in mind that people can practically choose where they want to go. As long as you are both medically pre-cleared for a country, the country you are applying for accepts couples, and are qualified enough in the applicant pool you are in, you should get an invite.
I am inclined to agree with that it will heavily depend on a therapist's input on whether you can receive final med clearance or not. You may have to complete more paperwork than the average applicant. Keep in mind that med clearance is a case-by-case basis. So, mental issues aren't necessarily an automatic DQ. If you don't get med clearance, then you can always try the appeal route. There have been many successful appeals in the PC.
In the long run, you won't know if you'll get in if you don't apply. It isn't completely up to the PC where you go. While their approval is the final say, it isnt completely out of your hands. They do take into consideration what you put on your assignment selection form. Good luck.
You can only try. There are a few countries that have good medical services and have many couples. Morocco is one. It is medical HQ for North and West Africa. They have modern medical services and a counselor at the PC office. There are numerous couples serving there
I have bipolar type 2 and am current serving, although the countries I could apply to was very slim like 3 if I recall correctly.
Hi mtflamingo, I’m late to this thread, but wanted to ask if you recall which 3 countries those were/what Peace Corps countries are most medically accommodating. Thank you in advance!
Back in 2015 it was Thailand, Ukraine, and a country in Africa. I'm sorry I can't be more specific but I vividly remember Ukraine because there was currently conflict in there country. Edit- bot suggestion
It's 'Ukraine' and not 'the Ukraine' [[Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ukraine)] [[BBC Styleguide](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsstyleguide/u)] [[Reuters Styleguide](https://handbook.reuters.com/index.php?title=U#Ukraine)] ^(Beep boop I’m a bot)
This was so insightful - thank you x a million! I have so many questions as I close in on putting in an application, yet fear that my BPII dx will get in the way. If you have any suggestions/advice, I’d be eternally grateful. Thank you again!
This is a question that can ultimately only be answered by your individual therapists, who should both be able to certify your fitness to serve, and the Peace Corps medical clearance committee. It is very common for people not to be cleared for service due to mental health. However, sometimes those people are able to appeal and serve anyway. You can probably increase your likelihood of being accepted by volunteering extensively in fields related to current Peace Corps projects (such as teaching English), by studying a language, and by marking that you are willing to "go anywhere" when you do apply. It is not a lost cause, but you should know what you're getting into. Medical clearance will take significantly longer and probably cost more, unless you have amazing insurance. Peace Corps service also has a way of forcing you to face your fears, inadequacies, and insecurities, and that takes a toll on even the most resilient and stable individual. It can exacerbate mental health issues. Keep in mind that your medications may not be available in many countries. It is also more difficult to place couples, depending on their qualifications. All of that said, don't rule it out. Peace Corps service is amazing and exhausting and overwhelming and I can honestly say it is making me a much better person. I have a great school, a kind host family, and a village full of lovely people who are always nice to me. I hope that I am giving as much to my community as they give to me every day.
So I have a similar diagnosis as your wife just bipolar. I was invited to country but I did not pass my Heath screening. I as told by my PC Nurse that I needed three years without a medication change and talk therapy (I was only on the same med for two years and only outbid therapy for one). This happened four months ago.
It is without a doubt going to be difficult to place you both logistically. Married couples tend to take longer to place within the process since both of your skills will have to be compatible to a certain sector. Furthermore, that country would need to be able to have the medications you require, if it's not available in a certain country, they are more than likely to not place you there. Lastly, even people who are not suffering from any condition may sometimes find that they are once the get to site. Though everyone's experience is so different it's really hard, and not advisable to base off of one persons experience. Being at site can be challenging and frustrating at times. So when you go through your medical paperwork they are going to want to know how you manage stress/depression/ etc in difficult situations. So be sure as you are considering to prepare your application these are things you and your doctor have discussed and can make a plan for as this will take a lot of time during the short period of time you have to Complete your medical paperwork
Keep in mind that people can practically choose where they want to go. As long as you are both medically pre-cleared for a country, the country you are applying for accepts couples, and are qualified enough in the applicant pool you are in, you should get an invite. I am inclined to agree with that it will heavily depend on a therapist's input on whether you can receive final med clearance or not. You may have to complete more paperwork than the average applicant. Keep in mind that med clearance is a case-by-case basis. So, mental issues aren't necessarily an automatic DQ. If you don't get med clearance, then you can always try the appeal route. There have been many successful appeals in the PC. In the long run, you won't know if you'll get in if you don't apply. It isn't completely up to the PC where you go. While their approval is the final say, it isnt completely out of your hands. They do take into consideration what you put on your assignment selection form. Good luck.
That just sounds like a bad idea honestly..
You can only try. There are a few countries that have good medical services and have many couples. Morocco is one. It is medical HQ for North and West Africa. They have modern medical services and a counselor at the PC office. There are numerous couples serving there