Although they are not allowed to discriminate by law, so few babies come up for adoption intis country versus that number ofparents who wish to adopt that can be VERY choosy about who they give children to.
We have looked at adoption but have been told that realistically because I have diabetes it would be extremely hard to geta child in this country if at all.
I believe that the guidelines are very firm - and with so few children available to adopt, perhaps there may be some issues - but why not face this head on and ask the department?
You arent on their lists yet - so why not make some enquiries and be very honest about your concern?
Mental Health is no longer as stigmatised as it once was, and many people find that with the right treatment plans and support, their health is great. If that is the case - and you have evidence of this as life goes on - I would *hope* that you as a couple wishing to become a family *should* have as much chance as anyone else.
The departments stance on it all is most likely that they want a secure,loving and stable home for a child - so if anything *may* get in the way of that - it may sway decisions. Not sure. Ask them?
Good luck.
This is such a great question! I have depression which is very well controlled with medication and lifestyle tools. I am a little concerned as to how this may impact on our application to apply for international adoption, but the way I see it is that I am well, happy and can offer a great home for children.
If anything, having depression has given me skills and strengths I might otherwise not have and that would be very useful for parenting any child. I am not afraid of emotion or of challenges or of not necessarily getting a happy ever after cute as a button child that will love me all the time for the rest of their lives...I am prepared for (though still learning) about all the ups and downs adoption can bring. Perhaps I would be more naive and less ready if I hadn't gone through and overcome depression?? Who knows!
I can see and totally understand your views on how much life experiences can make everyone stronger and better people, and much more well equiped to parent and I entirely agree, BUT I would suggest that you have a long chat to people who have been through the ringer with the department and come out the other side, as my understanding and experience is that they are not all that empathetic when it comes to such medical histories.
With so many people in our culture being diagnosed and living with depression one would hope that the public perception about it all would loosen. But - whilst some banks for eg are still stopping some people from getting mortgage protection insurance based on past depression, and the overall mindset of many people being not very forgiving in our society about mental health, sadly such disclosures and honesty can get in the way of people moving forward in life and succeeding in things that they would do well in, like becoming parents of children who would benefit from their love. Still - prejudice is alive and well.
The barriers and lists to get through adoption are already so high. Adding a few more in can make the journey all that more tough sadly
I hear what you're saying! Sadly people can be too quick to judge...
At least in Australia if they denied our application they would have to be pretty clear about why, as if they said it was regarding depression I would be onto the Equal Opportunity Commission as quick as anything (because they would be breaking the law if that was the only reason)...but it is the other countries that concern me more.
Australia has no say on what other countries criteria are, and it is a reality that they may not be as understanding about depression as Australia (and we've still got a ways to go!).
Hi Michelle
My cousin has just gone through this, her DH has a mental illness that has been managed for many years, however they were told their chances were not that great, if any at all.
She didn't go in to specifics with me so I'm not sure if they came right out and said that or if it was suggested very diplomatically (sp?) that they didn't have a good chance, but they decided not to continue with the process due to his illness.
Hope this helps
Do you mind me asking what your cousin's DH has? I would imagine that for schizophrenia, bipolar etc it would be more difficult, and I've also heard that different states in Australia deal with it differently too.
I phoned the Department yesterday and they said that they look at us as a family and how we would be as parents, rather than 'oh you have a mental illness therefore you can't be good parents'..we are going to an introductory session in a few weeks so we will talk to them more then. I think different country programs look at it differently as well and the Department will give us advice on which country programs would be better for us to apply to (as they do with all applicants).
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