Emotional Support Services

When Life is a Challenge, You're Never Alone: The Navy's goal is to create a supportive environment to help Sailors and their families manage the challenges of military life. Seeking help in the face of personal, family, and psychological troubles require courage and the resources on this page can help.

Chaplain Services

Navy Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists assist Sailors and their families with spiritual fitness, resilience and toughness. Find a Navy Chaplain by calling 1-855-NAVY-311. Select "0" to talk with an agent who will facilitate your request.

Chaplain Services - CREDO

Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operations (CREDO) provides a variety of programs that enable spiritual and personal growth. CREDO workshops, seminars, and retreats are open to Active Duty, Reservists in active duty status, and their dependents. CREDO workshops and retreats are at no cost to beneficiaries. Programs include CORE Programs (e.g., Marriage Enrichment Retreat and Workshop), CORE Plus Program (e.g., suicide intervention training), and LivingWorks START (e.g., suicide prevention).

Counseling Services

Confidential and short-term counseling is available at the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC). You do not need a referral from command, physician, or insurance to receive services. Reach out to the nearest FFSC to see if you qualify. Additional resources for help:

Military OneSource provides information and steps to protect the mental health of you, a family member, children, and youth.

Mobile Applications

Visit the Navy App Locker and download useful tools

Military relationships are unique and can require special touches to stay close, even while separated. Naval Services FamilyLine has curated the best advice for other spouses on maintaining healthy and happy relationships.

The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) provides leadership and expertise to ensure mission readiness through disease prevention and health promotion in support of the National Military Strategy. The Center's vision is a healthy and resilient naval community inspired and enabled to achieve the highest quality of life.

Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW) is the Navy's sole organization for coordinating non-medical care for seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen.

Psychological Health Center of Excellence

The Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE) is a trusted source of information and resources related to combat stress, depression, reintegration, how to get into treatment, types of treatment for mental health conditions, and many other topics. Resources are available to military members, veterans, family members, clinicians, commanders, or anyone with a question about psychological health in the military.

The Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans, even if they’re not enrolled in VA benefits or health care. For immediate help dial 988.

The Defense Health Agency Warrior Care Recovery Coordination Program provides extensive information, resources, special programs and tools for wounded warriors and their caregivers. Look for toolkits, policy guidance, explanation of benefits, news, and a reference center.

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault

The Navy’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP) works to prevent domestic violence, ensure the safety of victims, and help military families overcome the effects of violence while changing destructive behavior patterns. Licensed counselors are available free of charge at the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), providing clinical assessment, treatment and service for service members and their families involved in allegations of domestic or child abuse.

Free. Confidential. 24/7. Get help, plan for safety, identify abuse, support others.

Visit Military OneSource for information about Unhealthy Relations, Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Harassment

SAPR

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program is designed to meet the needs of victims. Services are available regardless of whether the individual knows the offender, and regardless of where and when the assault took place. The Department of Defense Safe Helpline can connect you to your local SAPR program and provides live individualized support. Services are available 24/7.

Stress Control

Expanded Operational Stress Control (E-OSC) is a Peer-to-Peer program that integrates combat and operational stress control (COSC) practices with psychological resilience and mindfulness training to improve the psychological readiness and toughness of Sailors and units.

FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) provides resilience training to military children, families, and couples.

Military OneSource offers non-medical counseling and information about available resources, such as health and wellness coaching.

Stress is the reaction of your mind and body in dealing with life’s challenges. Unmanaged stress can lead to anger, depression, weight gain or loss, an increase in blood pressure, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, substance use and/or alcohol problems, and relationship and/or intimacy issues. The effects of unmanaged stress impact not only you, but also your family and friends. Identifying ways to cope with stress is important in order to maintain both your physical wellness and your psychological and emotional well-being.

Substance Misuse

The Navy Medicine website provides extensive resources, references and links, and includes information about the Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Program (SARP).

Understanding and identifying a substance use problem can be the beginning of a better life. Learn how to identify the warning signs of substance use disorders and where to get help.

Substance abuse refers to the harmful use of psychoactive substances. This includes alcohol and illicit drugs. TRICARE offers a number of resources for substance abuse. Topics include: Addiction, Alcohol Awareness, Getting Help, Opioid Safety, Principles of Drug Addiction Treatments, Substances, Tobacco Cessation, and Treatment.

Suicide Prevention

Project 1 Small ACT

Project 1 Small ACT (Ask-Care-Treat) can make a difference or save a life.

Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life (SAIL) is an evidence-based approach to intervention that provides rapid assistance, ongoing risk assessment, care coordination, and reintegration assistance for Sailors identified with suicide-related behavior. SAIL is a voluntary program that enhances collaboration between the Sailor, mental health care providers, and command leadership regarding the Sailor’s recovery.

Visit Defense.gov for news, messages, publications, toolkits and videos.

The Department of Defense embraces the public health approach to suicide prevention. This evidence-based approach shows that providing support services, talking about suicide, reducing access to means of self-harm and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others.

The MyNavy HR website provides facts and warning signs, informational products, toolkit and handbook, sources of support and videos.

Suicide Protective Factors

Protective factors against suicide include: 
  • Sense of community and belonging
  • Strong connections with family and friends
  • Sense of self-worth
  • Access to mental and physical health care
  • Beliefs that support self-preservation
  • Safe storage of lethal weapons

Suicide Risks and Stressors

Suicide risk is higher when multiple stressors are experienced:
  • Life transitions (moving, job changes, school changes, deployments, etc.)
  • Relationship issues
  • Financial problems
  • Career Shifts
  • Family dynamics
  • Lack of communication between partners

Suicide Warning Signs

Warning signs to look out for include:
  • Written or expressed thoughts of suicide in person or on social media
  • Isolation and withdrawal
  • Rage and/or irritability
  • Increased substance abuse
  • Changes in mood, sleep, or eating patterns
  • Acquiring lethal means
  • Conversation that sounds like good-bye in person or on social media
  • Expressions of helplessness or worthlessness, feeling burdensome

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