DoD Changes Security Clearance Question on Mental Health

The Defense Department will change a question on its long-standing security clearance form referencing an applicant’s mental health history because officials believe it is needlessly preventing some people from seeking counseling, according to a story from the Armed Forces Press Service.

As of April 18, applicants no longer have to acknowledge care that only involved marital, family, or grief counseling, not related to violence by the applicant, unless the treatment was court-ordered. They also do not have to acknowledge mental heath care if it was related to service in a combat zone. The revised wording has been distributed to the services and will be attached to the cover of the questionnaire.