Am I taking a risk to seeking mental health assistance if I hold a security clearance?
Question:
I need my clearance to keep my job, to keep the roof over my head, and food on the table for my family. Am I running a risk by seeking help?
Answers:
the fact that you sought mental health counseling or treatment, in and of itself, will not cause the revocation of your clearance. However, it is something that will be thoroughly investigated. You will be interviewed in detail and your mental health provider will need to furnish your medical record and will also be interviewed. The focus of the investigation is to determine if you are a risk to national security by being susceptible to disclosing sensitive information to unauthorized personnel or being a risk of physical harm at work. The mental health provider will be asked if your condition impacts on your ability to properly handle sensitive/classified information, among other things.
Yikes.
I don't know the exact answer to the question but I might be able to point you in the right direction. I believe the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) has protections for both mental and physical illness, in regards to protecting you on the job.
In addition you might want look up NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness) to see if they know of any laws or regulations governing this.
I don't think that seeing a therapist would be a mental health issue unless it came to being diagnoised with a disorder which a psychatrist would have to do. You could talk about that with the therapist before hand.
I know that there are laws protecting mental health status and jobs. HIPPA which i can't remember what that stands more might also hold information. That has to do with the electronic form you sign when picking up a prescription.
Good luck...hope that's helpful...
Your health should come first. Are you putting your job/family/life at risk if you do not seek help? Is it safe for someone with your problem, whatever it is, to be doing the job you are doing? Do you know for certain that you will lose clearance? I guess you have to decide how bad your problem is and how important it is to seek help. Will it be worst if they find out you have a problem and have not sought help?
just ask yourself, how sick to I need to be to get help?
Please take the time to call your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) line if you have one. Most likely you do. These are trained professionals who can help you know whether or not you need help, and can refer you to the proper people to receive that help. Depending on the size of your company and whether they are providing the EAP service themselves, you may also be able to obtain direct answers to your questions about your condition affecting your employment.
More Questions & Answers...