[Question]I’m worried that I may have contracted HIV. Where can I get tested?

[Answer]

You can get tested for the AIDS causing Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) at no charge at a local public health center without disclosing your name. The result will be notified to you about one week after the examination. To obtain a reliable test result, it is advisable you wait 3 months after infection to be tested since HIV antibody formation takes 6 to 8 weeks. You can also get AIDS examinations free of charge at the following sites:
Osaka Preventive Medicine Association (2-14-20 Kyomachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka 06-6447-0431) conducts examination from 18:00 to 20:00 on every Thursday.
Communication Hub of testing, counseling and support (chotCAST) (3F Ichiei-sogo buld.1-1-8, Nambanaka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka 06-6635-3332) offers examinations to first 30 visitors from 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Smart Life Net (venue:same as chotCAST 06-4256-8681) offers HIV tests between 6 and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
These organizations also offer examinations for other types of sexually transmitted diseases STD).

AIDS consultation
AIDS support line provides recorded messages in eight languages at 03-5940-2127(Tokyo), 078-265-6262 (Kobe), and 092-418-1818(Fukuoka)
English AIDS consultation is available between 12 and 3 p.m. on Saturdays by calling at 03-5259-0256
STD telephone hotline is available between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Spanish, Portugual and English (Tuesdays)，in Thai (Wednesdays), in Filipino and English (Thursdays) by calling 06-6354-5901.

[Question]I think I am afflicted with depression. How can I find a psychiatrist?

[Answer]

When you are mentally unstable because of unfamiliar circumstances in Japan and some other reasons, and are seeking treatment at mental institutions, you can consult at the following places for referrals.
Public health centers in your area
Osaka Prefecture Mental Health Center
Osaka Municipal Mental Health Center
Sakai Municipal Mental Health Center

You can also access online Osaka Medical Institution Information System for psychiatric hospitals and clinics information at : Osaka Medical Information System.

Although you can not get medical treatment, you can also contact private counseling services to seek help in a foreign language.

Tokyo English Lifeline 03-5774-0992
International Counseling Center 078-431-8272
International Mental Health Professional Japan has an online site listing therapists who can give counseling in foreign languages.