Like most things related to security clearances, the answer is: It depends. The SF-86 questions relating to psychological and emotional health were updated in 2016 to align with the recognition that receiving necessary mental health care is a good thing. There are no conditions or treatments relating to mental health that will automatically disqualify an applicant from gaining or holding clearance eligibility. In fact, being able to demonstrate that you sought needed mental health care, you are following through on recommended treatments, and are stable or the issue is resolved will be considered positively. What the adjudicators are most concerned with are issues that could negatively impact your reliability, judgment, and trustworthiness. In other words, could your condition or treatment negatively impact your ability to safeguard classified national security information? Hiring a knowledgeable attorney to assist with these kinds of disclosures can greatly increase your success in being found eligible for a clearance.
Justyn Ann Baxley is a Partner with JAG Defense. Her practice primarily focuses on security clearance law and administrative law. As a security clearance lawyer, Ms. Baxley has represented hundreds of individuals in security clearance adjudications across virtually every federal agency, to include the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, the National Security Agency, NASA, and others.
