20 JULY AUGUST 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Mental Health Support at State No Shame, No Penalties An FSJ Q&A with Under Secretary for Management John Bass FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BETH WALROND This career often entails times of great difficulty, distance from family, even acute crisis. I’ve spoken quite openly about my own challenges dealing with stress and trauma, and how indispensable MED’s mental health services were and are to me. Awareness of the available services is, of course, important; but the readiness to take advantage of those services is the crucial final step. The State Department’s Employee Consultation Services (ECS) is a great place to start, and they are available 24/7 at (202) 634-4874 or via email to MEDECS@ state.gov. It’s also important to note that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) does not play a role in deciding whether or not a person needs, or receives, care. DS does have an important role, though, in ensuring that individuals experiencing difficulties in their personal or professional lives do not unwittingly put the department, their co-workers, and national security at risk. The Office of Insider Threat Program (ITP) supports the Department of State community by providing a platform to report concerning behaviors employees witness in the workplace. ITP is focused on supporting the workforce Foreign Service Journal: In your role as Under Secretary for Management, you oversee both the Bureau of Medical Services (MED) and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS). These are the two bureaus with the most influence on whether people seek mental health care and the impact of that care on their careers. From that position, how do you ensure the most access for those who need it? U/S John Bass: Ensuring our workforce and family members have access to quality mental health services is more important than ever, and I take that responsibility very seriously. A career with the State Department involves normalizing activities that are quite stressful—starting with regularly changing where one lives, works, or goes to school. John Bass is Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17, 2021, as the Under Secretary for Management. A career Senior Foreign Service officer, he has served as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Türkiye, and Georgia. He began his diplomatic career in 1988 and has also served in Iraq, Italy, Belgium, and Chad. The son of a public servant and a U.S. Air Force officer, Bass was born and raised in upstate New York. A graduate of Syracuse University, he speaks Italian and French. He is married to Foreign Service Officer Holly Holzer Bass.
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