The Foreign Service Journal, January 2008

Q: Does seeking mental health treatment following service in Iraq or Afghanistan jeopardize one’s security clearance? Seeking mental health treatment following service in Iraq or Afghanistan does not jeopardize one’s security clearance. To suggest so is not only incorrect, but does a disservice to our employees who have served so admirably in these dangerous assignments. In fact, in October 2004, the department issued a notice to employees titled “Mental Health Counseling and Your Security Clearance,” specifically stating that con- cerns about their security clearance should not deter any employee from seeking professional assistance. Q: What is our reaction to the warning issued by the “Concerned Foreign Service Officers” to Foreign Service officers regarding seeking mental health care? The warning issued by Concerned Foreign Service Officers to Foreign Service officers regarding seeking mental health care is completely unfounded. Furthermore, the department considers this “warning,” which has no basis in fact, detrimental to the health of our employees. Q: Are medical treatment records shared with DS? No, employee medical treatment records are not shared with DS. On occasion, employee conduct may result in a referral to MED for a mental health evaluation. In those instances, employees are advised that the result of the MED evaluation may be shared with DS for securi- ty clearance purposes. However, this evaluation process F O C U S 48 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 8 M/DGHR/DS PRESS GUIDANCE Friday, May 4, 2007 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING / SECURITY CLEARANCES