Self-reporting mental health hospitalizations is mandatory for security clearance holders. Many security clearance holders fear that reporting any adverse information, especially mental health issues, will negatively impact their clearance. But the reality is proactive care, including a mental health hospitalization, may be seen as a mitigating factor. Adjudicators use the “whole person concept,” focusing on judgment and reliability rather than the treatment itself. Seeking help before a crisis occurs is a mitigating factor, while failure to disclose is far more likely to cause issues.
One ClearanceJobsBlog subscriber was questioning whether they should have reported a voluntary hospitalization when they were working outside of the cleared space a few years ago:
My clearance was current (2-year period after leaving cleared space) but not active during a period I was working for a private sector company that had no connection to the government so no FSO or classified work, it was a health care company. During the time my clearance was current but not being used I had an adverse event (voluntary mental health hospitalization). I didn’t have anyone to report it to as I wasn’t working in a cleared role nor did I have anyone FSO. I consulted with a couple of clearance attorneys and forums (here and fed soup) and wasn’t given clear instructions to self-report once I started at a new company that was in a cleared role and they picked up my clearance. There was no form given that asked if I had any adverse events to report just the 306 but that doesn’t ask about mental health. It wouldn’t have shown up in CE because it was a hospitalization so I’m assuming HIPPA prevents it from being disclosed. Was I supposed to self-report voluntarily to the FSO once I started my new cleared job?
Again, I had no intention of hiding it and wasn’t given clear directions and even looked on DCSA’s site and it doesn’t mention who to report to if you’re not in an active cleared role. I guess I was supposed to self-report to my new FSO but I was under the impression based off of what I read and my consultation with attorneys that it would be reviewed and analyzed during my reinvestigation. Am I going to get denied during my reinvestigation?
Event happened 3 years ago and I’m up for reinvestigation by the end of this year. I’ve worked in cleared space for past two years. I genuinely was not trying to hide anything, and I did report on the of306 for my second cleared position that I was terminated from my private sector job and it was indirectly related to the hospitalization. All this stress of the possibility of losing my clearance has me super stressed and looking for another career path. I’m young enough to do it now rather than later if I’ll get denied.
Commenters noted that if you’re not in a cleared role, you don’t have an FSO, so there would not have been anyone to report the incident to in real time. The consensus was that the issue will likely be reviewed during the next SF-86 / reinvestigation process, where the user can fully disclose and explain.
Legal expert Bill Henderson notes, “Things that must be disclosed on an SF-86 are not the same as the things that must be self-reported between SF-86s. SEAD 3 says nothing about mental health hospitalization.”
Some advice on the thread suggests that once re-entering the cleared workforce, it’s generally a good idea to proactively report past incidents to your security office, even if they occur earlier. For current holders and future applicants, honesty and disclosure moving forward are what matter most.
Visit CDSE’s Reporting Requirements At A Glance for more tips.
Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” For this reason, we maintain ClearanceJobsBlog.com – a forum where clearance seekers can ask the cleared community for advice on their specific security concerns. Ask CJ explores questions posed on the ClearanceJobs Blog forum, emails received, and comments from this site. This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
Katie is a marketing professional with a passion for all things digital, communications, promotions, and events. With over a decade of experience supporting the Department of Defense, she has partnered with multiple contractors to drive recruitment strategy, staffing augmentation, and integrated marketing and communications efforts.
She is especially passionate about helping transitioning service members and veterans navigate the national security job market, connecting them with meaningful career opportunities where their skills and experience can make an impact.
Outside of work, Katie’s favorites include a good IPA, tackling challenging hikes like the Grouse Grind in Vancouver, BC, and staying connected on her favorite social platform—ClearanceJobs 🇺🇸