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Depression, PTSD, and hostility are common mental conditions that are associated with aging. A growing body of research has highlighted the possible effects of depression, PTSD, and hostility on aging and telomere length (TL), a cellular aging marker. Individuals who exhibit excessive responses to stressors show notable circulating inflammatory responses with high cortisol reactivity, which increases cell turnover and oxidative stress and may subsequently contribute to shortened TL. This review focuses on the most recent discoveries in the relationship between TL and depression, PTSD and/or hostility, particularly in a unique military population (US active service members during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars). Current findings indicate that prevention and treatment efforts designed to reduce mental disturbances, such as PTSD symptoms and hostility, may help mitigate risk for TL shortening, a process of cellular aging, and thus slow the accelerated aged-related health outcomes.