Leadership Matters
Leadership is more than accomplishing the mission—it is caring for the people entrusted to your leadership.
Every day, military leaders influence the culture within their units. The way you respond when a service member asks for help can build trust, encourage early intervention, and, in some cases, save a life.
The Brandon Act provides eligible service members with a confidential pathway to request a mental health evaluation. Understanding your role helps ensure every request is handled professionally, respectfully, and in accordance with your Service’s policies.
As a leader, you may never know the full impact of responding with compassion, listening without judgment, and helping a service member access the care they need. Those actions can make a lasting difference.
Your Role as a Leader
Military leaders set the tone for their units. Service members are more likely to seek help when they know their leaders will respond with professionalism, respect, and compassion.
Creating a supportive environment begins long before someone asks for help. It is built every day through your actions, your words, and the example you set.
Creating a Culture of Trust
Trust develops when service members know they will be treated fairly, listened to respectfully, and supported without fear of unnecessary judgment or stigma.
Encourage open communication and let your team know that asking for help is always appropriate when someone is struggling.
Reducing Stigma
Mental health is an important part of overall readiness.
Help eliminate stigma by treating mental health with the same seriousness as physical health. Encourage early intervention and remind service members that seeking help demonstrates responsibility and strength.
Leading by Example
Leaders who demonstrate empathy, professionalism, and respect create an environment where others feel safe asking for help.
Your response often influences whether someone seeks the support they need.
Encouraging Help-Seeking
Regularly remind your personnel that resources are available before a crisis occurs.
Encourage conversations about wellness, stress management, and resilience throughout the year—not only after a difficult event.
Why Leadership Matters
A leader’s response during a difficult conversation may become one of the most memorable moments in a service member’s career.
A calm, respectful, and supportive response helps build confidence, strengthens trust, and reinforces that every member of the team has value.
The Brandon Act is a federal law designed to make it easier for eligible active-duty service members to request a mental health evaluation.
Its purpose is to remove unnecessary barriers and encourage early access to care.
What Is The Brandon Act?
The Brandon Act allows eligible service members to confidentially request a mental health evaluation through authorized individuals identified by their Service.
Who Does It Apply To?
The law currently applies to eligible active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces. Each military branch has established policies describing how requests are received and processed.
Confidential Requests
Mental health requests should be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Service policies.
Information should only be shared with those who have a legitimate need to know.
Leader Responsibilities
Leaders should:
- Respond professionally and respectfully.
- Take every request seriously.
- Follow their Service’s Brandon Act procedures.
- Facilitate timely access to care.
- Protect the service member’s privacy.
Protecting Privacy
Confidentiality builds trust.
Respecting a service member’s privacy encourages others to seek help when they need it and supports a culture where mental wellness is viewed as an essential part of readiness.
Receiving a request for a mental health evaluation is an important leadership responsibility.
Your response should be calm, supportive, and focused on helping the service member access care promptly.
What To Do Immediately
- Listen carefully.
- Thank them for coming forward.
- Remain calm and professional.
- Follow your Service’s Brandon Act procedures.
- Help connect them with the appropriate resources.
What NOT To Do
Avoid:
- Questioning whether they “really need help.”
- Minimizing their concerns.
- Delaying the request unnecessarily.
- Discouraging them from seeking care.
- Sharing information beyond those with a legitimate need to know.
Responding Respectfully
Simple statements, such as these, can help reduce anxiety and build trust.
“Thank you for coming to me.”
“I’m glad you told me.”
“Let’s make sure you get the support you need.”
Ensuring Timely Access to Care
Leaders play an important role in ensuring requests are handled promptly in accordance with Service policy.
Timely access to care supports readiness and may prevent a situation from becoming more serious.
Avoiding Unnecessary Delays
Whenever possible, avoid unnecessary administrative delays that could prevent a service member from receiving timely care.
Supporting someone does not end once a request has been made.
Leaders continue to play an important role throughout the process.
Following Up Appropriately
Check in with the service member while respecting their privacy.
A simple “How are you doing?” can demonstrate ongoing support.
Respecting Confidentiality
Do not discuss personal medical information with others unless authorized or required.
Protecting confidentiality helps maintain trust.
Encouraging Treatment
Encourage service members to attend appointments and utilize available resources.
Supporting treatment demonstrates that seeking help is encouraged.
Maintaining Dignity
Treat every service member with dignity and respect.
Avoid treating them differently simply because they requested mental health support.
Returning to Duty
Many service members successfully receive mental health care and continue serving with distinction.
Support their return to duty in accordance with medical recommendations and Service policies.
Healthy command climates are built intentionally.
Leaders who encourage open communication create environments where people feel comfortable asking for help before a crisis develops.
Reducing Stigma
Normalize conversations about mental wellness.
Encouraging Open Communication
Regularly remind personnel that seeking help is encouraged.
Supporting Mental Wellness
Promote available wellness programs, behavioral health services, chaplains, and Military & Family Life Counselors.
Suicide Prevention
Early intervention saves lives.
Know the warning signs, encourage conversations, and connect service members with professional resources when needed.
Looking Out for One Another
Strong teams look after each other.
Encourage service members to check on their peers and speak up when they are concerned about someone’s well-being.
Military leaders do not have to navigate these situations alone. The following resources are available to support both leaders and service members.
Brandon Act Resources
Learn about The Brandon Act, implementation guidance, and available educational materials.
Military OneSource
Confidential resources for service members and their families.
Behavioral Health
Military treatment facilities and behavioral health professionals.
Chaplains
Confidential spiritual support and guidance.
Military & Family Life Counselors (MFLAC)
Short-term, non-medical counseling and consultation services.
Veterans/Military Crisis Line
Available 24 hours a day by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or using the online chat service.
Brandon Caserta Foundation
Educational resources, advocacy, and support for service members, veterans, military families, and leaders seeking information about The Brandon Act.
❤️ Closing Reflection
Leadership Leaves a Lasting Impact
Every interaction with a service member is an opportunity to build trust, demonstrate compassion, and strengthen your team.
The way a leader responds when someone asks for help may be remembered for a lifetime.
A supportive conversation, timely action, and a commitment to treating every individual with dignity can make all the difference.
Thank you for your commitment to leading with professionalism, respect, and compassion.
Leader’s Quick Reference Checklist.
✅ Listen without judgment.
✅ Thank them for coming forward.
✅ Take every request seriously.
✅ Follow your Service’s Brandon Act procedures.
✅ Protect confidentiality.
✅ Help connect them with care.
✅ Continue to support them throughout the process