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Can I Become a Security Officer if I Have a Mental Health Condition?
Mental Health and the Security Industry
Mental health is a vital part of every person’s wellbeing, and many people living with mental health conditions are interested in working in security. At Asset College, we recognise that mental health challenges vary widely, and we welcome enquiries from prospective students who want to know whether security training is suitable for them.
This article is designed to help you understand how mental health may affect your ability to participate in training and, ultimately, work in the security industry. It will help you reflect on your personal situation so you can make an informed, confident decision.
What Types of Conditions Are We Talking About?
Mental health conditions can be temporary, ongoing, fluctuating, or episodic. They may be formally diagnosed or self-identified. Some examples include:
- Anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder)
- Depression or mood disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia or related conditions
Some people live with more than one mental health condition or are managing their symptoms with the help of therapy, medication, or lifestyle strategies. We recognise that lived experience varies – and that many people thrive in work with the right support.
How Mental Health May Affect Training and Security Work
Security officers must remain alert, calm under pressure, and capable of managing conflict and unpredictability. Mental health conditions may affect:
- Emotional regulation in high-stress or hostile situations
- Judgement and decision-making when under pressure
- Communication skills, particularly when de-escalating conflict
- Concentration and awareness during patrols or surveillance
- Sleep and fatigue levels, especially with shift work
- Response to confrontation or triggering environments
It’s important to consider not just whether you feel “well” today, but how you typically respond in situations involving stress, aggression, loud environments, unpredictability, or conflict.
What We Consider in the Training Environment
At Asset College, we are focused on your ability to safely and effectively participate in training. We do not discriminate based on diagnosis – and we will not prevent you from enrolling simply because you disclose a mental health condition.
However, if your condition may affect:
However, if your condition may affect:
- Your ability to complete assessments
- Your safety or the safety of others
- Your ability to engage respectfully and consistently in group activities
- Your capacity to manage stress during simulated or real-world scenarios
… then we may ask for a fitness to participate clearance from your treating doctor.
This process helps us ensure you are ready for the demands of the course and that any support strategies or risks have been considered properly.
This process helps us ensure you are ready for the demands of the course and that any support strategies or risks have been considered properly.
We’re Not Mental Health Clinicians - and That’s Why We Ask
While some of our staff have personal or family experience with mental health, and we undergo regular professional development, we are not mental health professionals. We can’t and shouldn’t guess what is right for your situation.
That’s why, when concerns arise, we request a Fitness to Participate form. It allows your doctor to consider the training context and confirm whether it’s appropriate for you to proceed – or whether any conditions should be put in place for your participation.
We do this not to create barriers, but because we care about helping you succeed safely and sustainably.
Reasonable Adjustments: What’s Possible
We will always consider adjustments that help you participate, so long as they do not:
- Create safety risks for you, staff or other students
- Compromise the integrity of the training and assessment process
- Undermine the experience or participation of others
- Pose practical limitations we cannot overcome
We do not adjust the content or requirements of the qualification – but we may adjust how you engage with them, where appropriate.
Decision-Making Checklist: Is This the Right Fit for Me?
Before enrolling, consider these important questions:
- Am I able to manage high-stress or unpredictable environments safely?
- Can I communicate assertively and calmly, even in conflict?
- Do I respond well to structure, rules, and routine?
- Is my condition stable enough to allow consistent participation across several weeks of training?
- Have I had recent advice from a mental health professional about working in security or first response roles?
- Can I manage the impacts of any medication, fatigue, or emotional changes during shift work or training simulations?
If any of these raise concerns for you, we recommend having a confidential discussion with our team and/or your healthcare provider.
A Career Path That Respects Your Wellbeing
Many people with mental health conditions live full, rewarding lives – including in frontline industries like security. However, this work can expose individuals to risk, stress, and trauma. It is essential to go in with eyes open and a strong support plan.
We will support you to access training safely and honestly. But we also want to ensure that what you’re working towards is achievable, safe, and sustainable for your long-term wellbeing.
We will support you to access training safely and honestly. But we also want to ensure that what you’re working towards is achievable, safe, and sustainable for your long-term wellbeing.
Disclaimer
Please note: Training with Asset College does not guarantee that you will be eligible for a security licence or employment in the industry. Licensing decisions are made by the relevant state or territory regulators. Employers may have their own requirements for fitness for duty, availability, and role suitability. We recommend seeking independent medical and professional advice before making enrolment or career decisions.
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