Rumor! In fact, security clearance guidance makes clear that mental health treatment can help, not harm, a clearance holder when it comes to issues like psychological conditions, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual behaviors. As we explain in our blog post on the importance of mental health treatment, the Department of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence have been making efforts to dispel this myth that discourages security clearance holders from seeking mental health counseling. And, in 2020, DoD issued this Mental Health and Security Clearances Fact Sheet.
Worried this is just lip service? Don’t be. Although each case is fact-specific, DoD has issued favorable decisions to individuals with significant mental health history, including hospitalization and diagnosed mood disorders, based, in part, on a commitment to mental health treatment.