For many federal employees, military service members, and government contractors, access to classified information is an essential requirement of the job. If you are not successfully cleared through a background investigation, you simply cannot hold the position. That makes it natural to worry about whether a mental health condition—or a history of treatment—could jeopardize your eligibility.
Mental health concerns are addressed under Guideline I: Psychological Conditions in the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, most recently reaffirmed in SEAD-4 (Security Executive Agent Directive 4). The guideline notes:
“Certain emotional, mental, and personality conditions can impair judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness.”
Despite this, most people with mental health conditions are not disqualified. The federal government has emphasized its support for help-seeking behavior. The current version of Standard Form 86 (SF-86) explicitly states:
“Mental health counseling in and of itself is not a reason to revoke or deny eligibility for access to classified information or for a sensitive position.”
This is not just aspirational language. Research shows that the vast majority of individuals with mental health histories who demonstrate stability, treatment compliance, and candor are granted or retain their clearance eligibility (Defense Personnel and Security Research Center, 2020). But to protect your clearance, it’s critical to follow a deliberate and strategic approach. Below is a two-step plan to help you navigate the process.
Step One: Seek Treatment From a Qualified Mental Health Provider
The most important thing you can do is seek treatment if you need it. The presence of a diagnosis—such as generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, or major depressive disorder—does not automatically disqualify you. What matters most is whether the symptoms:
- Impair your judgment, reliability, or ability to function, and
- Whether you are taking responsible action to manage your condition.
At ClearancePsych, we’ve worked with numerous applicants and employees who have successfully maintained clearances while managing conditions like depression, substance use recovery, trauma, and panic disorders. The common thread? They engaged in evidence-based treatment, followed clinical guidance, and could demonstrate that their condition was well-controlled and stable.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication adherence, and ongoing clinical follow-up significantly reduce symptom severity and improve functional outcomes across many psychiatric disorders. Documenting this clinical stability is a powerful mitigating factor in the eyes of adjudicators.
Step Two: Be Honest About Your Mental Health Record
This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many individuals are referred for psychological evaluation because they were not fully forthcoming about their mental health history during the clearance process.
When someone fails to disclose counseling or psychiatric treatment, it raises suspicion—not just about the condition itself, but about their honesty and integrity, which fall under Guideline E: Personal Conduct. A minor mental health concern becomes a major issue if it looks like you were trying to cover it up.
Section 21 of the SF-86 asks:
“In the last seven years, have you consulted with a health care professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition, or were you hospitalized for such a condition?”
There are exemptions for counseling related to grief, marital problems, or combat-related adjustment. However, many people mistakenly believe they do not need to report treatment for anxiety, psychiatric medication from a primary care provider, or an inpatient stay—even when it clearly falls under the reporting requirement.
From an adjudicative standpoint, omission is worse than disclosure. Security personnel are trained to view honesty—even about difficult topics—as a sign of maturity and sound judgment. On the other hand, being caught in a lie (even a lie of omission) can derail your clearance more than the underlying condition itself.
Get Started on Your Clearance Today!
Following this two-step plan—(1) seek treatment and (2) tell the truth—will help you protect or regain your clearance eligibility when facing mental health-related concerns. Most people who follow this path, supported by high-quality care and honest disclosure, are cleared successfully.
If you are uncertain about how to proceed, you don’t have to navigate it alone. ClearancePsych can help assess your situation, provide documentation, and offer guidance designed to mitigate adjudicative concerns under SEAD-4.
Dr. Scott Edwards is President and Chief Psychologist at ClearancePsych. He is a licensed, board-certified psychologist with over 30 years of experience. ClearancePsych connects security clearance professionals, attorneys, and applicants with psychologists who understand the clearance process. We provide psychological evaluations, adjudicative mitigation coaching, and treatment support designed to help individuals retain or regain their clearance. Learn more at https://www.clearancepsych.com