During Veterans and Military Families Month, it's important to reflect on and acknowledge the unique challenges that Veterans and their families face. 

One major challenge for Veterans is prioritizing and finding the resources to care for their mental health. Research shows that as many as half of Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have been diagnosed with a mental disorder associated with substance abuse disorders (SUDs), according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Moreover, almost two-thirds (63%) of Veterans diagnosed with SUDs exhibit some of the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

The consequences of these mental health challenges can be overwhelming for Veterans and their families. The 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report shared the staggering statistic that, in 2019, an average of 17 Veterans per day died by suicide.

While these numbers are difficult to process, we have an opportunity to support the mental health of Veterans. One encouraging figure: 70% of veterans who used mindfulness techniques to address stress and to relax found it “moderately or very helpful.”

With this in mind, Headspace has dedicated a special focus on helping Veterans. We recently launched a Mental Strength Training collection with Dr. Jannell MacAulay, a retired U.S. Air Force Veteran known for her ability to destigmatize and demystify taking care of your mind. This collection incorporates Dr. MacAulay’s four mental strength training techniques: Mental Pushups, Tactical Pause, Mindset Reset, and Mindful Minute.

Headspace is also a proud partner of Blue Star Families, an organization dedicated to supporting Veterans and their families by creating communities of mutual support. Through this partnership, Headspace offers Veterans and their families free access to our flagship app, which includes guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, soothing soundscapes, and clinically-proven tools for stress reduction and more restful sleep. In 2023 alone, more than 6,000 Blue Star Families members have spent nearly eight million minutes on the Headspace app.

"As the spouse of a Marine Corps Veteran, I can attest to the profound impact of the Headspace app on our military-connected community," said Penny Bolden, Senior Director of Cause Marketing and Brand Partnerships, Blue Star Families. "My husband and many of our members started utilizing the app as a resource during the COVID-19 shutdown and have continued to use it to find calm amidst the chaos of military life. Member stories involving Headspace include kids trying to overcome the absence of a parent, Veterans transitioning out of service, and solo parents needing five minutes to themselves. Our members not only use this app; they rely on it, and we are truly grateful to Headspace for providing this service to our community free of charge."

Here are five common challenges that Blue Star Families’ members have turned to the Headspace app for support with.‍

1. Depression and anxiety‍

For many Veterans, support from Headspace goes beyond guided meditations. Our “Managing Anxiety” and “Letting Go of Stress” courses, available through the app, are two of the top three most-used courses by Blue Star Families’ members. 

Through her Blue Star Families membership, Shelbi turned to the Headspace app to complement her therapy sessions. “I've struggled with depression and anxiety after having my son in 2017,” Shelbi said. “With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, I was feeling better but not great and still going to therapy regularly. I started using the sleepcasts to help me ease into bedtime and the meditations to be more present.”

In addition to the sleepcasts, Shelbi has found solace with a specific meditation offering to help with anxiety attacks. After suffering an anxiety attack, she explained, “I immediately thought of Headspace and quickly searched for a meditation on panic attacks. As I sat in the dark, with my eyes closed, listening to the words and taking deep breaths, everything finally started to slow down. It took several minutes for my body to fall back into a normal rhythm. I'm so thankful that I downloaded Headspace all those years ago. It truly was a lifeline when I needed it.”‍

2. Supporting families ‍

When a member of the family is deployed, stress levels can rise. Headspace’s meditation courses, which feature a variety of different leaders, topics and lengths, can provide just the right match to ease a family member’s stress level. 

“My partner deployed three months into the COVID pandemic, which took an additional toll on my mental health,” Kathryn said. “Blue Star Families sent out several emails plugging various resources to assist families through the pandemic, including the amazing Headspace app. I used their meditations daily; I appreciate all the different categorizations for my different needs…The diversity is amazing and such a breath of fresh air through everything going on in the world today.” ‍

3. Coping with war in the headlines‍

The news can hit former military families in a unique way. Events such as the challenging troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the violent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the recent escalation between Israel and Palestine can take a toll on Veterans.

These current events have reminded Melissa of the low points of her own service. “It has been extremely triggering and distressing for us. It feels like a tsunami of pain and stress hit our lives like a category-5 storm over the course of this year,” she said. 

Free access to the Headspace app has helped. “I'm certain that without this scientifically-backed and psychologically-sound guidance and comforting, uplifting messages, this time in our lives would have felt even more unmanageable and painful,” she said.

‍4. Sleep ‍

Headspace offers sleepcasts for children, too, who can sense and be impacted by the stress the adults in their families are experiencing. For instance, Nicole said Headspace helped her toddler with sleep troubles.

“I originally downloaded the Headspace app for myself because I am interested in meditation,” Nicole said. “What I didn’t expect was for the app to have sleepcasts for kids. My son, now 3, has always struggled with falling asleep at night, sometimes taking over an hour to settle in. He’s been loving the Goodnight World Elmo series, especially “Elmo & Tango at the Puppy Salon,” requesting it nightly now. The stories have a short breathing exercise and a sweet story, read in a soothing tone, that my son falls asleep to by the end of the 20 minutes. I am truly grateful for access to this app and the easier nights it has brought to our family.” ‍

5. Retirement‍

We know that being in the military can be stressful – but so can the transition that comes with leaving it. The transition into retirement poses its own difficult challenges, and Melissa said that Headspace’s meditation courses and other features have helped boost her mental health through periods of uncertainty.

“My husband retired from the Army last year after 24 years of service, which is a special kind of joy AND very much a grieving process. I know first hand — I retired in 2019 from the Air Force myself after 20 years of service,” said Melissa, adding, “Headspace has been my virtual friend and therapist (it took me over 18 months to finally get an appointment for mental health care through the VA). This app stood in the gap and truly helped us navigate anxiety, grief, and hopelessness.” ‍

Learn more about how Headspace’s partner, Blue Star Families, strives to advance the holistic health of Veterans and their families.

‍