Mental Health Ally Certification Added to Military Spouse Leadership Program

The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) will officially incorporate the Psych Hub Mental Health Ally Certification into its Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) catalog this year, following unprecedented growth in 2025. This self-paced certification, sponsored by USAA, represents a significant expansion of mental health support resources available to military spouses through structured leadership development. The program addresses a documented need, with 83% of surveyed participants from the 2025 cohort reporting that challenges encountered as military spouses have affected their mental health or overall wellness.

Incorporating this certification into LIMS provides military spouses with evidence-based professional training designed to create a more compassionate and mentally fit volunteer force. The Psych Hub platform hosts a library of over 1,000 digital assets, including short videos, shareable content, and podcasts, which participants can access on-demand. This integration allows MSAN to empower military spouses further by implementing the certification through their established leadership development framework. The training's impact is substantial, with 97% of participants who completed the coursework indicating they now have tools to assist themselves or someone else during a mental health crisis, and 92% reporting they learned something new about mental health and wellness.

The Mental Health Allyship training specifically helps address mental health resource shortages that military families frequently encounter. According to MSAN Founder and CEO Verenice Castillo, military spouses often serve as the first line of support for their families and communities, yet access to timely mental health resources remains a critical challenge. These certifications equip military spouses to serve as trained mental health allies and first emotional responders, bridging the gap between when support is needed and when professional care becomes available. The program is available to all spouses of current serving United States military members from any branch, including the Reserves and Guard, as well as post-9/11 Gold Star spouses, surviving spouses, caregivers, and spouses of veterans or retirees.

For more details about eligibility and lessons learned through the program, visit https://www.leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org/mental-health-allyship. Castillo emphasized that hosting this training represents a significant step for LIMS, providing military spouses with expanded opportunities for development and support. The organization expressed gratitude for USAA's partnership and shared commitment to creating lasting impact for those who serve alongside the nation's military. This initiative aligns with MSAN's broader mission to create stronger military families through education, empowerment, and support, while the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses specifically focuses on cultivating strength, enhancing leadership skills, and inspiring collaboration among military spouses.