Mental Health: A Wellness Issue for National Security
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 | 1-800-273-8255 | suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Consider this: If a colleague broke their arm, would you judge them for going to the doctor? Probably not. Rather, you would expect them to. A medical doctor would help set their arm, cast it, and possibly recommend physical therapy to make it heal correctly. The same is true for those seeking counseling or other mental health services. Supervisors and colleagues should expect them to seek professional help when dealing with anger, grief, depression, anxiety, loss of interest, and/or mood swings. Mental health professionals can help equip them with the tools to combat stressors, address loss/tragedy, and overcome sadness, ultimately leading to a stronger individual and a more rapid recovery.
Unfortunately, misconceptions about the relationship between mental health and national security pervade the federal government. Those who work in or with the federal government may believe that by seeking mental health care or treatment they risk security clearance revocation, service separation, or job loss. This perception has grown for a variety of reasons. For one, early versions of a form called the SF-86 (which all cleared personnel must fill out to initiate a background investigation) previously asked if an applicant had ever sought treatment for mental health. Though the form posed the question specifically to determine if the individual had been in court-ordered treatment, its ambiguous framing caused confusion among applicants. Furthermore, this perception may have been due in part to some military leaders communicating a “suck it up” mentality and portraying those who sought help as weak.
The reality is that individuals who seek mental health care when needed are better equipped to protect national security.
Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience some type of mental illness every year.[1] Subsequently, not seeking treatment or help can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety and lead to substance/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and even suicide. Behaviors such as domestic violence and substance/alcohol abuse are of much greater concern than mental health treatment when it comes to maintaining a security clearance. Since 1999, the United States has seen the number of suicides increase by 35%, with veterans almost twice as likely as non-veterans to commit suicide.[2] [3] Considering veterans make up 31% of the federal workforce, these statistics underscore the risk of not addressing mental health issues appropriately within the federal workforce. [4]
However, while the use of mental health care and treatment continues to increase across the United States, those with or applying for security clearances still may not seek out treatment when they need it.
“An individual’s decision to seek mental health treatment and/or counseling will not, in and of itself, adversely affect his or her ability to obtain a national security position, or alone form the basis for denial or revocation of a security clearance. Seeking personal wellness and recovery demonstrates responsible behavior and may be considered favorable when evaluating a person’s eligibility for a national security position.”
Aware of the consequences of untreated mental health needs, the federal government has evolved its stance on cleared employees and contractors seeking mental health treatment. Over the last decade, federal leaders in the defense and security space have issued guidance and public awareness campaigns addressing mental health and security clearances. For example, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper issued interim security clearance guidance in 2013 clarifying that “an individual’s decision to seek mental health treatment and/or counseling will not, in and of itself, adversely affect his or her ability to obtain a national security position, or alone form the basis for denial or revocation of a security clearance. Seeking personal wellness and recovery demonstrates responsible behavior and may be considered favorable when evaluating a person’s eligibility for a national security position.”[5] In 2020, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) reiterated this sentiment with a one-pager about continuous vetting for those with active clearances, which stated, “It is important for the cleared workforce and prospective employees to understand that there are no automatically disqualifying conditions or treatments.”[6] And in September of 2023, Health.mil released a video titled, “Will Mental Health Services Affect My Security Clearance?”[7] This video highlights a study from 2012 - 2018 that looked at 2.3 million security clearances in which almost 47,000 individuals reported psychological health issues. Of those 47,000 individuals, only 12 had their clearance applications denied or revoked for psychological issues alone, making it extremely rare.
Cultural change is slow but necessary. As part of his initiative to prevent suicide within the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo in September 2023 directing 24 actions, including several to address stigma and barriers to seeking care. Secretary Austin stated, “Over time, seeking help will become a sign of strength to more people and eventually mental health care services will be widely considered as a critical element of individual performance.”[8]
As an individual pursues mental health care or treatment, they become better equipped to do their job and protect classified information. They also become less susceptible to adversarial influences. From a security perspective, this increases one’s trustworthiness, it doesn’t diminish it.
Are you doing your part to protect our national security by taking care of your mental health?
Go to www.health.mil/mentalhealth for more resources (including care options) and insights into addressing mental health challenges.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 | 1-800-273-8255 | suicidepreventionlifeline.org
[1] https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/NAMI_2020MH_ByTheNumbers_Adults.pdf
[2] https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-04-08/cdc-report-suicide-rate-up-35-since-1999
[3] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
[4] https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/11/percentage-veterans-federal-workforce-stagnates-31/186763/
[5] https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2013/item/828-director-of-national-intelligence-issues-new-security-clearance-guidance
[6] https://www.dcsa.mil/Portals/91/Documents/pv/DODCAF/resources/DCSA-OnePager_MentalHealth_SecurityClearances.pdf
[7] Will Mental Health Services Affect My Security Clearance? | Health.mil
[8] https://www.health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2023/12/04/news458878?type=Events