I get asked sometimes about my previous career because I am past thirty and, to the younger generation, I am almost dead. A young, aspirational individual questioned me about whether mental illness prevents someone from pursuing a career in government intelligence.
Basically, the response is no. but with a few restrictions. Severe mental illness is undoubtedly a concern in a setting that values resilience and stability, but there are different degrees of it. Here are some explanations for why it is usually OK, along with some advice to assist you avoid giving the wrong impression.
Say What?
This question astounded me when I first received it. I was taken aback and initially perplexed by this generational curveball. “What is the common attitude to folks who appreciate soft jazz on Thursday afternoons only?” was a question they may as well have asked. My generation was closed off to these kinds of things. Particularly men, who would rather keep everything bottled up until their fourth heart attack and third divorce.
Shifting Perceptions
However, things are evolving. The issue goes beyond simple mental disease. It concerns the attitudes and methods used by the applicant and the relevant agency.
Mental Illness and the Community of Intelligence
The way that we talk about mental illness has changed dramatically over the past few decades, even for government agencies. There are two notable changes there. First of all, there is now a lot more openness and support in the discourse surrounding mental illness. Secondly, they are no longer hiring only white men. Diverse experiences and backgrounds are facilitating transformation. For pragmatic reasons, however, intelligence services have embraced this change with gusto. Why?
Security and self-interest are the primary causes. An employee is more stable and secure if they have positive habits and are willing to ask for assistance. Individuals who have depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues may become more susceptible if they do not receive assistance. Individuals who experience mental illness and withdraw from society may acquire harmful coping strategies. Just consider binge drinking, drug use, gambling, and adultery. The list is endless. This is a veritable gold mine for adversarial foreign intelligence agencies. There is a great deal of room for blackmail and other sorts of coercion.
It has also grown to be an essential component of an organization’s duty of care. Many organizations, particularly those in the intelligence community, prefer that you be candid and helpful when discussing your mental health. They offer internal lines of contact, mental health services, support programs, etc. They understand that this is critical for maintaining security and addressing new issues arising from the digital era, like vicarious trauma—the detrimental effects of continuous exposure to graphic media. The most well-known (and horrible) examples are child exploitation materials and film from battlefields. But never underestimate the power of written or even audio accounts. Reading through stuff like this is a big task. The relevant agencies need to keep that in mind as well as your personal safety.
Additionally, by eliminating the stigma associated with mental health, they prevent a possible avenue for hostile agency blackmail.
The Candidate: A Few Self-Assessment Questions
To put it briefly, when applying for this kind of position, you must demonstrate that you are proactive, realistic, and most importantly, honest. Can you provide an employer with a constructive or positive response to the following questions?
Where Did I Get My Diagnosis and What Is It?
Have medical professionals correctly diagnosed you? Indeed, obtaining one can be challenging, but it is a necessary first step. We are living in a perplexing time where there is a real mental health epidemic along with social media pressure to self-diagnose and connect with others based on purportedly common mental health issues. One young person I spoke with claimed to have severe social anxiety because she felt too uncomfortable to draw attention from servers while she was out with friends. Or the young man who said that after an hour and a half of exercise, he experienced a dissociative episode because his mind had wandered. It is possible that they both had real problems, but I do not think their diagnoses were accurate. I do not disparage any generation. Humans have always been human; this is not novel nor exclusive to any particular group. Just imagine what an employer could think of a prognosis based only on TikTok. It is important to recognize that words have power and that telling someone something your friends understand might not have the same impact on a government organization. This is one aspect of the communication gap that exists between you and the people who hired you.
However, it is a positive thing on many levels if you have managed to receive expert aid if you need it. Programs for charity and support networks might also assist with this.
What Support Systems And Coping Mechanisms Do I Have? i.e. How Am I Handling It?
A portion of it is diagnosis. Another is treatment. They will want to know what you are doing if you are experiencing depression, anxiety, or anything else. Being able to remark, “I experienced depression a year ago, but I sought therapy,” is wonderful. After taking medication for a few months, I started an exercise and self-care regimen. My family and friends are aware and willing to help.
What a fantastic story. However, each person will have a unique one. However, the primary question they have is whether the problem was resolved or, in the event that it persists, how you are managing your health by adopting well-advised actions. That is the most crucial element. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your transparency and honesty throughout the process and how you are handling a situation that affects a lot of people just like you.
How Should This Be Mentioned in My Application?
I want to stress again: do not include it in your cover letter or resume. We will have plenty of opportunity to talk about it during the hiring process. You can freely go through psychological and personality tests and interviews as they occur. These tests aim to determine your skills and shortcomings so that we can determine whether you are a good fit rather than to catch you off guard.
Colleagues and others in different fields have informed me that they have seen resumes from young people listing their requirements. It is a very bad concept. With the possible exception of paranoia, no mental health issue is a disqualifier in the intelligence sector. Do not list it even after that. They are already aware.
Rejection for Various Motives
Bureaucracies run government intelligence agencies. Remember that always. Your application might not be accepted for a variety of reasons. Perhaps there was a full intake that year. If this is a specialized position rather than an intake, perhaps there were internal candidates more qualified than you? Perhaps they canceled the position because they ran out of money for it? Perhaps additional eligible applicants just applied at the same time?
The truth is that you will never know, and there are just too many possible explanations to mention. Governmental organizations may employ terminology such as successful or failed, or considered appropriate or inappropriate. Intelligence services do not provide detailed comments. At all. You will not get it if you ask, so do not even bother. This is to prevent rival intelligence services from creating a manual on “How To Infiltrate X Agency.”
And Why It is Okay To Be Rejected
It might not be a good fit for you. Intelligence operatives must be able to converse comfortably and extensively with persons from diverse backgrounds. Intelligence analysts must be thorough and receptive to dispute, even when it comes to evaluations. Both must maintain composure under duress and be okay with uncertainty. Does that fit your personality and state of mind? That is something only you can decide. You get the idea, however there are a lot more positions. Making sure you are a good fit is the key. If you fail at the first attempt, it is not the end of the world. There is always next time.
Just make sure you are taking care of yourself as best you can and seeking assistance when need. There are ordinary and amazing people like you in every spy agency. I urge you to give it a shot.
