The Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program is providing expanded mental health support for federal and Tribal wildland fire personnel.
A wildland firefighter contemplates a partially burned forest during the 2021 Caldor Fire. Photo by Joe Bradshaw, BLM.
What We Know About Mental Health in Wildland Fire
Wildland fire personnel are the backbone of the nation's ability to protect public and Tribal lands, vital infrastructure, and communities from wildfires. They work in incredibly stressful environments that can have significant impacts on their health and wellbeing, including their mental health.
A survey of over 2,600 current, former, and retired wildland firefighters found that they are exposed to many types of stressful situations, including those that could have resulted in a fatality, having to run or drive very fast to avoid a fire or falling tree, and seeing human remains. The survey also found that wildland firefighters reported symptoms consistent with mental health disorders at a rate that is 2.5 to 4 times higher than the general population, including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress. In addition, wildland firefighters reported health behaviors that can be early warning signs of mental health problems, including higher rates of binge drinking and smokeless tobacco use.
These outcomes could be exacerbated as wildfire activity becomes more extreme.
Current Efforts to Address Mental Health for Wildland Fire Personnel
The Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program is expanding support for wildland fire personnel across the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, including mental health support. It is working alongside existing agency services to provide additional resources tailored to the unique experiences and needs of wildland firefighters.
The program is working to address the unique experiences and mental health challenges experienced by permanent, temporary, seasonal, and year-round wildland fire personnel.
By bridging existing mental health services and filling the gaps to address the full spectrum of wildland firefighter health and wellbeing needs, this program will increase access to services that build resiliency, improve mental preparedness, recognize the importance of self-care, and address the effects from cumulative stress.
Behavioral Health Officers
Behavioral health officers are now available to provide mental health training to wildland fire crews and personalized consultations to help employees navigate available health and wellbeing resources.
They can provide resources to foster resilience, improve stress management through increased education, connect wildland fire personnel with behavioral health resources and services, and advise local units on supporting health and wellbeing. They are working in coordination with agency leaders and existing resources to promote prevention or early intervention for mental health challenges for federal and Tribal wildland fire personnel.
A behavioral health officer is assigned to each region. Contact them at bho@ios.doi.gov. Please list your region in the email to help your message reach the right person more quickly.
The behavioral health officers are commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service who have been assigned to the Interior and Agriculture departments to support federal and Tribal wildland fire personnel.
The Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service is one of the nation’s eight uniformed services and the only one dedicated solely to protecting America’s public health. Public Health Service officers serve in agencies across the government to fight disease, conduct research, care for patients, and they stand ready to preserve the health and safety of our nation during national or global health emergencies.
Wildland Fire Therapy Service
Due to the occupational exposures and stresses of working in wildland fire, there may be times in your career when you need professional mental health support.
The Wildland Fire Therapy Service provides mental health treatment for federal wildland fire personnel through a nationwide network of licensed providers with expertise in addressing the unique needs of emergency responders.
The service offers access to evidence-based mental health therapy treatments, meaning the interventions and practices are supported by research that has shown they are effective.
You are eligible if you served as a primary or secondary federal wildland firefighter or a federal dispatcher who worked in a full-time, permanent, seasonal, temporary, collateral duty, or administratively determined (AD) emergency hire position. The service is also available to those who served in a federal role that directly supported operational wildland fire activities for up to six months after that role ends. Tribal firefighters who have participated in a Tribal fire program that operates in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and who have supported federal wildland fire operations are eligible to use this service.
You can use the therapy service to address the effects of stress or trauma related to working in wildland fire, such as concerns about acute stress reactions, anxiety, grief, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use.
Eligible employees may schedule an initial consultation and up to 16 free therapy sessions per year. Providers are available in every state.
While existing services can help you identify available resources, provide short-term support, or help cover some of the costs of extended care, this service provide access to free longer-term therapy with providers specialized in working with emergency responders, providing a more comprehensive suite of options to better meet the needs of our workforce.