Faith & Mental Health in Veterans
A national survey of 6,796 American Legion members examining the role of faith in mental health, use of digital faith resources, and views on faith-based support within VA and military systems.
of veterans maintain some form of faith or spiritual connection
rate faith as “extremely” or “very” important
report faith helps mental health “a great deal” or “a lot”
Study Overview
The Challenge
America's veteran community reports high rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, moral injury, and suicide. Key barriers to veterans seeking professional care are preference for self-management, low confidence in professional care, and being unsure if care is needed.
At the same time, faith is nearly universal among veterans — 94.7% maintain some form of faith or spiritual connection. This presents a powerful opportunity to reach veterans through faith-based digital tools that meet them where they are.
Methodology
Research Partnership
Participants
6,796 American Legion members
Veterans: 6,505 | Family: 240 | Active duty: 51
Study Type
National Cross-Sectional Survey
Partner
American Legion
Focus Areas
Faith, mental health, digital resources
Results
Impact of Faith on Mental Health Symptoms
% of veterans reporting symptom or condition improved
Beliefs & Attitudes
What Veterans Believe About Faith-Based Mental Health Resources
Faith practices promote mental health
Faith helps manage mental health
VA should offer faith-based resources
Apps can supplement in-person care
Implications
What This Means
Fill the VA Gap
61% of veterans believe the VA should offer faith-based resources, and 52% believe apps can supplement in-person care. PRAY.COM can bridge this gap.
Address Military-Specific Wounds
55-59% of veterans believe faith provides measurable benefit for PTSD, moral injury, and betrayal, where professional care often falls short.
Combat Isolation
75% of veterans say their faith community helps with loneliness. As in-person community becomes harder to sustain, PRAY.COM offers a portable, always-available source of belonging and connection.
Get In Touch
Connect With Our Research Team
Whether you're an institution interested in research collaboration, a healthcare organization exploring faith-based wellness, or a university seeking campus mental health solutions — we'd love to hear from you.