The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) announced today that its Psych Hub Mental Health Ally Certification, sponsored by USAA, has been officially added to the program catalog of the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS). This integration comes as MSAN experienced unprecedented growth in 2025 following the launch of LIMS, and aims to further empower military spouses through accessible, evidence-based mental health training.
The certification is a self-paced, on-demand program available through LIMS, building on MSAN's existing peer-to-peer mentorship framework. According to MSAN, the training addresses the critical need for mental health resources among military spouses. Survey results from MSAN's 2025 cohort revealed that 83% of participants reported that challenges faced as a military spouse have affected their mental health or overall wellness. However, 97% of those who completed the coursework indicated they now have tools to assist themselves or someone else during a mental health crisis, and 92% said the training taught them something new about mental health and wellness.
The Mental Health Allyship training leverages Psych Hub's library of over 1,000 digital assets, including short videos, shareable content, and podcasts, to provide evidence-based professional training. MSAN Founder & CEO Verenice Castillo emphasized the importance of the program: "Military spouses are often 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 the moment support is needed and the time professional care becomes available."
Eligible participants include spouses of current serving U.S. military members from any branch, including Reserves and Guard, as well as post-9/11 Gold Star Spouses, surviving spouses, caregivers, or spouses of veterans or retirees. More details and application information are available at leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org/mental-health-allyship.
MSAN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, aims to create stronger military families through education, empowerment, and support. Its Military Spouse Mentorship-HUB connects military families globally via a Virtual Education and Resource Center, mentorship program, and leadership development. For more on MSAN, visit militaryspouseadvocacynetwork.org. LIMS, which empowers military spouses to become community leaders, offers additional information at leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org.
