u/iceiscurious

Hi! For context, I filed for a LOA a year ago due to mental health reasons. This would mean na I would have to go through the process of getting a mental health clearance for me to be able to return and enroll. I believe the first step is providing a medical certificate stating that I'm fit to return to school from my attending psychiatrist. I've had the same psychiatrist since 2023 and I got the med cert needed to file my LOA from him. My college has accepted it naman. I read somewhere in here that the med cert needed to return has to come from a diplomate, fellow or life fellow of Philippine Psychiatric Association. Unfortunately, I've only recently learned that my psychiatrist isn't a member of the PPA upon asking him as well as searching his name on the PPA website. Now I'm honestly worried that I won't be given a mental health clearance and get to enroll for the sem because of this. I don't want to be delayed any further especially since I still have friends in the batch I'm supposed to be a part of upon coming back. Is there really no chance for them to accept the medical certificate from my psychiatrist? I don't think any other psychiatrist would give me a med cert on our first consultation. Besides, the enrollment is just around the corner and it would be too late by then. Has anyone experienced the same thing? Is there any way I can work around this? Do I have no chance of enrolling for this sem? Because if I don't, I might just transfer to another school :(

P.S. I already emailed my college with my inquiries on returning but I've yet to receive a reply (it's been 2 weeks). I need to know if I have a chance because one of the schools I'm eyeing to transfer to has already began classes and I'm running out of options. It would really help if someone who has been on the same situation can offer their insights!

TW: mention of self-harm

I'm so pissed at myself. I had a scheduled consultation at NCMH today and I was meaning to ask for a medical certificate stating that I'm fit to go back to school. For context, I have PDD and I had bad episodes which affected my academics and normal functioning so I decided to file a leave of absence last school year. My school is strict, and I need a medical certificate from a board certified and PPA (Philippine Psychiatric Association) member psychiatrist in order to be given a medical clearance. Aside from NCMH, I actually have a main psychiatrist whom I got my initial medical certificate for my LOA from. I searched for his name in the PPA website but unfortunately, his name didn't come up which means he most likely isn't a member of the association. My only other chance was to get the med cert from NCMH, hoping that the doctors would be a member of the PPA. The upsetting part is that I knew I had to refrain myself from saying something that will affect my chances of getting the med cert. I knew and I told myself repeatedly to not say anything. But once the doctor asked if I had harmed myself, I stupidly said the truth. I did hurt myself. I tried not to say that, or the fact that I planned to kill myself last May (this one I didn't share). I'm so mad at myself for being honest. I hate that I told the truth. I shouldn't have. I was told that a psychological testing was necessary to get the fit-to-school certificate but with my recent s/h, the doctor said I would most likely be declined and instead, be declared not fit to go to school which would be valid for 1 year. I already wasted a year and I can't waste another. Now, I feel hopeless. I don't know how I'm gonna go back to school now. And another thing I'm stressed about is I'm gonna have to tell my father the reason why I wasn't given a medical certificate. I promised myself not to let him know as to not worry him, but he told me to tell him about it later and I don't know if I will lie or tell the truth again and make him worry. I know what I did was stupid, and I am very mad at myself. I just wanted to let this out instead of harming myself again. I'm sorry.