The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) has announced that its Psych Hub Mental Health Ally Certification, sponsored by USAA, will be officially incorporated into the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) program catalog in 2026. This move follows unprecedented growth for MSAN in 2025, driven by the launch of LIMS. The certification, previously offered separately, will now be available on-demand through LIMS, providing military spouses with a self-paced opportunity to become trained mental health allies.
The certification addresses critical mental health needs within the military spouse community. According to surveys from MSAN's 2025 cohort, 83% of participants reported that challenges encountered 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 program uses Psych Hub's evidence-based professional training, which includes a library of over 1,000 digital assets such as short videos, shareable content, and podcasts.
Verenice Castillo, MSAN Founder & CEO, emphasized the importance of the certification: "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." She added that the integration into LIMS represents a significant step in providing military spouses with a broader journey of opportunities.
Eligibility for the program extends to all spouses of current serving U.S. military members from any branch, including the Reserves and Guard, as well as post-9/11 Gold Star Spouses, Surviving Spouses, Caregivers, or spouses of Veterans or Retirees. More details about eligibility and lessons learned are available at leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org/mental-health-allyship.
MSAN, a 501c3 nonprofit, aims to create stronger military families through education, empowerment, and support. Its Military Spouse Mentorship HUB provides a peer-to-peer mentorship experience, and LIMS furthers this mission by empowering spouses to become community leaders. For more information on MSAN and its programs, visit militaryspouseadvocacynetwork.org. For details on LIMS, visit leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org.
