[PaulJ]

Hi Group,

Have been having a rough ride for past few months with a big family crisis and other unrelated problems in the middle of my plans to move to Christchurch late October / early November. I just could not cope with the stress of this on top of the stress sorting out the move, and have not done anything to sort out the move for past three months.

I have been thinking about taking some counsuelling, and have been referred by my doctor. I have not given go ahead, as I have been worried that I need to inform New Zealand Immigration as this could be considerred as change to my health. Have been worried about any knock on affects with my residence visa which runs out end of November. Can anyone shed any light on my concerns ?

Regards,
Paul.

[willsken]

Hi Paul

I can only offer an opinion. If it was me I would have the counselling and not inform NZ about it. I don't think that seeing a counsellor is a change to your health at all.... just helping you cope and get through hard times. :yes

[KD17]

Hi Paul

I'm not sure on the official reply, but in my opinion I would "assume" that they may look on it that as long as you are still able to hold down a regular job and "not be a burden on their society" i can't see that this would cause a problem.

It is an extremely stressful time, moving house is one thing, emigrating to a new country/lifestyle is totally different.

Good luck


Keith & Debby

[ruthyroo]

This is only my humble opinion... I think that mental health issues would only be considered a 'change' to your health if they got to the stage where you were actually diagnosed with an illness that is likely to affect your ability to function in 'normal' society, like serious depression maybe. If everyone that needed / would benefit from counselling to help them through a stressful stage in their lives was prevented from emigrating to NZ then I think very few of us would be here!

My dad was a psychiactric nurse. From my talks with him, mental health seems to be on a kind of scale, and most people at the 'mild' end of the scale probably do have issues that would benfit from being worked through. But for some people the issues get so big that they just can't deal with them, and still do all the things they need to like hold down a job, have a relationship etc. That's the stage where I think it would warrant informing NZIS.

I hope that the counselling helps and you get back on an even keel.

[StevieD]

Keep schtum mate - sure you'll be o.k.


Steve