Three Ways the USO Supports Service Members’ Mental Health

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings, the Military/Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat live, or text 838255. A caring, qualified responder will listen and help.

By Danielle DeSimone

Military service can place unique pressures on the people who serve and their families, from deployments and frequent moves, to long periods away from loved ones and the stressors of their duties. Oftentimes, those pressures can take a toll.

During National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, there is an important opportunity to recognize that suicide is the leading cause of death among active-duty service members. However, this month is also an opportunity to recognize the role that connection and community play in service members’ overall well-being as they navigate the unique pressures of military life.

The USO is committed to supporting the well-being of the people who serve – and that includes their emotional and mental well-being. While there is no simple solution to the challenges of mental health in the military, the USO has a vast network of Centers and programs around the world, supported by caring staff and tens of thousands of volunteers who help build community and provide a sense of belonging for the people who serve.

Here are a few ways the USO supports the people who serve as they navigate challenges to their well-being.

Communities such as USO Centers support mental health recovery

At more than 260 locations around the globe, USO Centers serve as a home away from home for service members stationed or deployed far from their own families and support networks. Here, they can find comfortable couches, a library, TVs, gaming consoles, a kitchen and more. At USO Warrior Centers, which are located near military hospitals where wounded, ill and injured service members are being treated, these Centers are a place where recovering service members can step outside the clinical environment to relax, connect with others and spend time in a more familiar, welcoming setting.

“[The USO is] creating an environment where people want to come and just relax, unwind and kind of get away from being in the recovery room or the stress in life,” said Staff Sgt. Goodley, who is stationed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and explained that many service members who are recovering may need a break from being in a medical setting.

In fact, research shows that having a community-based space can help reduce isolation and allow people to recover – particularly as it relates to mental health – in an everyday environment.

But beyond the amenities, USO Centers provide something else that is just as crucial: a welcoming space where, for just a moment, service members can take a step away from the pressures of service and bond with their fellow service members.

“When you create a space that people can come in and begin to see different sides of either their leaders or their comrades, it gives them the opportunity to show up differently, to express, to emote,” said Chaplain Col. Michael Pauls, a chaplain stationed in Germany. “So, I think [the USO], creating the space of community, creating a space for connection, creating a space that when the crisis comes … you already have a refuge.”

Staff Sgt. Goodley, stationed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of having a trusted “battle buddy” to turn to during difficult moments. | Photo credit USO Photo

The USO helps facilitate that sense of community through programs such as game nights, arts & crafts activities, homecooked meals and more. By hosting regular events, the USO gives service members something to look forward to – and a way of forging friendships with each other.

This can be incredibly helpful in supporting service members’ mental health, as research shows that community-based activities can help prevent suicides and promote long-term recovery.

“Everyone has a battle buddy, that one person they can talk to, at least one. And if you need help, just say something,” said Staff Sgt. Goodley. “Talk to that battle buddy that you can trust. And even if there’s no answer, just getting it out and instead of holding it all in and letting it weigh you down can help.”

Maintaining relationships can help alleviate the strain of service

Chaplain Col. Pauls explained that service members face many of the same challenges anyone might – stressors around finances, relationships, health, etc. – but in addition, they also face pressures unique to military life, including frequent moves and being away from their support networks.

And when asked what kind of support is most beneficial to supporting service members going through difficult times, Chaplain Col. Pauls’ answer is immediate: “Connection and relationships.”

Chaplain Col. Michael Pauls emphasizes the importance of connection and relationships in supporting service members’ well-being. “Connection and relationships,” he said, can be among the most impactful ways to support someone going through a difficult time. | Photo credit USO Photo

Being apart from established support networks that could help you navigate the challenges of deployment or a difficult mission can have a negative effect on service members. In fact, a majority of surveyed active-duty members reported in 2025 that time spent away from family was one of their top issues of concern.

When working in suicide prevention, the importance of those relationships is even more apparent.

Chaplain Col. Pauls explained that while behavioral and mental health treatments are crucial, as well as everything from spiritual services and resiliency training, to holistic health and fitness regimen, one of the most impactful ways to support service members is to provide “a listening ear.”

That listening ear can be in the form of a loved one back home – and providing service members with ways to connect with their loved ones is important for their well-being. In fact, according to a 2018 study, “social connections can act as a buffer against the impact of stressful or negative life experiences on mental health.”

Through USO programs and Centers, service members are able to reach out across the miles and find the support they need through family and friends. Sometimes, that connection is made possible by something as simple as access to the free Wi-Fi, computers and phones provided at nearly every USO Center around the world .

Or they can do so through reading programming, in which deployed service members can walk into a USO Center, record themselves reading their child’s favorite book and have that recording – and a copy of the book – shipped home. Many military parents credit the program with helping them feel as if they are back with their family, “even if just for one story.

Outreach brings support straight to the front lines

The U.S. Armed Forces has prioritized developing suicide prevention programs across all branches of the military.

“The Army has done a great job about telling people it’s okay to share your feelings and emotions and talk to somebody, anybody,” said Staff Sgt. Goodley. “It’s just incredible to see that they know that the Army and people are there for them to care for them. So I think it’s one of the greatest tools that we have – the ability to go and just form those relationships and bonds and actually talk to them.”

Chaplains play a major role in reaching out directly to service members who are struggling.

“The main tool is your personal experience, being able to share that, being able to tap in and identify what they’re going through because you have been through it and being able to help them along the journey … first validating that reality and then helping them see that there’s still a place that you can draw strength,” said Chaplain Col. Michael Pauls.

“I’m here to help you identify what [your anchor] is for you. Whether it’s meditation, working out, calling home – regardless of what it is, because in that time of the storm, it’s what brings that level of reset and peace.”

Supporting the overall well-being of service members takes a network of people and resources. The USO plays a distinct role within that network by providing programs, spaces and moments of connection, while working alongside military leaders and chaplains to understand where those resources can be most helpful.

When morale is low, commanding officers will contact and then work with the USO to deliver expeditionary support. For some front-line locations such as in the Middle East, where a brick-and-mortar USO Center might not be possible, USO teams will travel across the region to visit these bases for a few days to host events or deliver care packages.

Events such as an afternoon of tie-dye or a taco dinner in the middle of the desert might be seemingly simple at first glance. But after months of the same, relentless and high-pressure schedule, having this kind of support delivered to challenging deployment locations can make an immense impact on morale. And a USO Care Package – filled with essential hygiene items or snacks from home – are a reminder that even when far away, the American people still support these service members.

“[The USO does] a really, really good job because you’re actively engaged with the people,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gonzalez Martin, another chaplain stationed in Germany. “You’re not just sitting at an office waiting for them to come to you. You go and seek them out, the soldiers and the family members, which helps them understand they can come and seek you out at the same time.”

Suicide among active-duty service members is a problem. It is an issue that cannot be easily fixed, but it is one that should be addressed. And no matter where their service takes them – or what challenges they face – thanks to the support of our donors, the USO will continue to stand by the side of the people who serve, wherever and whenever they need us most.