Stigmas Still Exist Around Mental Health and Security Clearance Process: Report
A white paper from defense and technology company Leidos is shedding light on the intersection of mental health and the security clearance process.
Researchers at the Reston, Virginia-based company reviewed whether applicants believe that seeking mental health support would jeopardize their chances of receiving a clearance.
They found that stigma and misinformation still exist around mental health, despite the government making changes to remove that stigma. They also found that younger workers are more aware of mental health concerns than their older counterparts.
To reach their conclusions, researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with 16 current and former security clearance holders, ranging from C-suite to junior level. They also conducted a survey of 300 prospective hires for roles requiring a security clearance.
“The security clearance process is essential to protecting our national security, but it should not discourage current and prospective cleared employees from taking care of their mental fitness,” said Roy Stevens, Leidos Intelligence Group president.
The paper found that a large majority of prospective security clearance applicants view seeking help for mental health issues as a positive attribute and are willing to disclose their own mental health history. Eighty percent of respondents say that seeking help for mental health shows that an individual takes responsibility for their mental health and should be viewed positively in the security clearance process. Eighty-one percent of respondents who had sought mental health treatment say they are comfortable disclosing it.
Mistrust in Process
However, the paper found that there is mistrust in the clearance process. Nearly two-thirds say they are very or somewhat concerned that their mental health history could play a role in the investigation and 48 percent believe that current mental health issues could hurt their security clearance application.
Even people who have clearances already, say they have avoided mental help over fears it could impact their clearance status.
In fact, more people think current mental health issues will hurt an individual’s clearance chances than prior work for a foreign government, income sources from non-U.S. sources, foreign citizenship at birth, and parents’ foreign citizenship at birth.
The report notes that this “lack of trust and misunderstanding will have a significant impact on the current and prospective talent pool, which can result in a less diverse workforce.
There are also concerns about transparency. The report notes that applicants were concerned that the placement of mental health questions next to criminal history and drug use in the SF-86 questionnaire, “leads respondents to believe these questions will be treated in the same way.”
The paper also cited communication challenges, noting that applicants are relying on government websites and social media, which can lead to opaque information and forces applicants to “come their own conclusions based only on the information available on the screen.”
Recommendations for Being More Inclusive on Mental Health
The white paper made three recommendations:
· Recognize the role leadership plays in fostering a culture where mental well-being is prioritized.
· Consider continuous evaluation of mental health needs for the Intelligence Community workforce.
· Train recruiters and security clearance personnel on how to destigmatize mental well-being with applicants.
· Establish and overcommunicate clear criteria for mental health evaluation to debunk stigma and misconceptions among recruits and IC officers.
“The stigma of mental health has been pervasive in our industry for far too long and we applaud Leidos for putting this study together and driving the conversation toward solutions,” said Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, President of the Intelligence and National Security Association (INSA) and Foundation (INSF). “By eliminating barriers to attracting talent the IC can grow and strengthen our resources while enhancing our nation’s security.”