TURN OF PHRASE: ENDING STIGMATIZATION IN MENTAL HEALTH LANGUAGE

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month focuses on how surroundings influence mental health and calls for individuals to “look around, look within.” Language is also a part

of our surroundings, and unfortunately, stigmatizing language was once present in relation to mental health. This article highlights the DOD effort to destigmatize mental health and provide a safer environment for help-seeking individuals.

A November 2022 memo titled “Review of Policies to Eliminate Stigmatizing Language Related to Mental Health” outlined the DOD’s efforts to encourage help-seeking behaviors amongst DOD military and civilian employees. It calls for identifying and eliminating stigmatizing language related to mental health

in departmental policies, which can deter those seeking help with mental health struggles. Language matters and sets the tone for an organization. If it stigmatizes mental health issues and/or help seeking in our policies, then

our leadership, Service members, and DOD civilian employees at all levels

may inadvertently use stigmatizing language

in everyday interactions.

It can also cause misinterpretation regarding how to appropriately apply policies or procedures.

One example of how to fix this stigmatizing language is to use person- first language when describing anyone with any kind of health condition

or disability. Calling someone “a person with schizophrenia” as opposed to just “a schizophrenic” makes a difference. It clarifies that the person

has a condition that can

be evaluated, managed,

or treated. Negative terminology or language may also introduce bias. For instance, if you say someone is “suffering from,” a disorder, it frames the disorder

as an affliction, which contributes to stigma. You should say that person is “diagnosed with” instead. Just as?Rosa’s Law?did

in 2017, we must ensure federal policies as well as our colloquial exchanges with one another reflect appropriate professional sensitivities to mental health and developmental concerns.

The Defense Health Agency?Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)?provides information

and resources to assist Service members, veterans, and their families with psychological health care, readiness, and prevention of psychological health disorders. In November 2019, the PHCoE began a systematic re-evaluation

of 169 policies to verify they removed stigmatized language. Here at CDSE, we are also making efforts to remove stigmatizing language from our courses and products to better support DOD’s efforts to encourage military and civilian personnel to seek mental health treatment when needed. Now,

more than ever, Service members and DOD civilian employees, face stressors as they strive to serve our country. They need to know that seeking treatment will not negatively impact their careers.

Seeking behavioral health treatment is a positive course of action that often mitigates security concerns, but avoiding

it can increase those

risks. Solid coping skills, drawing upon ways to both take care of emotions in a given situation and problem solve (when the problem is soluble), will allow personnel to feel and perform better when under stress. Your organization’s Employee Assistance Program, or similar program, is a great source for resources and support. At the end of this article you will also find additional resources.

Remember, merely seeking mental health care will not impact your national security eligibility. Practicing mental wellness ensures that security personnel are able to carry out their duties effectively and defend the Nation.

Reporting Requirements

One of the biggest questions surrounding mental health and

security is what actions

are reportable in association with Section 21, Psychological and Emotional Health, of

the Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The DOD Manual 5200.02, Enclosure 11 and Security Executive Agent Directive 3 outlines possible thresholds

for what would merit reporting:

• Declarations of mental incompetence by a court or administrative agency.
• Court ordered mental health care or evaluation (inpatient or outpatient).
• Hospitalizations
• for mental health conditions (voluntary or involuntary).
• Diagnoses of the following conditions by a health care professional:
• ??Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or delusional disorder.
• Bipolar mood disorders.
• Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder. (please note there is NO diagnosis that is considered automatically disqualifying)
• Developing a mental health or other
• health condition that substantially affects judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness.

It is important to have factual data to counter the myth that an individual

is likely to lose or fail to gain national security eligibility after seeking mental health care or experiencing mental health symptoms. The denial and revocation statistics in the graphic above show that this is not the case. To learn more, view the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) Mental Health and Security?Fact Sheet?and?FAQs.

Mental Wellness

Avoiding treatment

hurts readiness and increases security risks. Seeking behavioral health treatment is a positive course of action that

often mitigates security concerns. Practicing mental wellness ensures that security personnel are able to carry out their duties effectively.

Behavioral health resources* are available for cleared individuals who need them:

• Seek support and assistance when needed, such
• as through the organization’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or similar programs.?Remember: merely seeking mental health care will not impact national security eligibility.
• Mindfulness and meditation are two excellent emotion- focused coping techniques. There are many excellent

books, apps, and even a program called “Headspace,” which is?currently streaming, that can help develop these skills.

? In addition to the EAP and other programs mentioned above, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has an?interactive resource?to help walk through mental wellness and what it can mean for the individual.

*Resources and information provided by psychologists at DCSA.