Resources for physical and mental health and wellness are available to all federal wildland fire personnel right now through the Employee Assistance Program and individual agencies.
If you or someone else is experiencing life-threatening symptoms or at immediate risk of harming yourself or another person, call 911.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are in distress, call or text 988. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts. You can call, text, or chat for support. Even if you are not experiencing a crisis, you can contact the service for resources and advice to help you or someone else.
Information on the health and wellbeing resources available to Interior Department and USDA Forest Service employees can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center taking care of our own webpage.
Employee Assistance Program
The Interior Department and USDA Forest Service offer an Employee Assistance Program that gives our personnel access to professional, confidential counseling and consultation that can help employees resolve life challenges. Services are available at no cost to employees or members of their family. The departments have contracted with Acentra Health (formerly known as Espyr) to provide assessments, short-term counseling, and referral services for a wide range of personal and work-life issues.
Recognizing the importance of these services for employees like our wildland firefighters, the Employee Assistance Program is now available to seasonal and temporary employees. Additionally, under the new contract, employees who leave active-duty status for reasons such as resignation, furlough, or retirement may continue to receive services for up to six months. Their eligible family members may also continue to receive services during this period.
As we expand mental health support, we will build on the Employee Assistance Program and other existing resources to create comprehensive mental health services for our wildland firefighters.
A live counselor is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
USDA Forest Service Employees:
Online: www.forestserviceeap.com
Mobile: download the Espyr Connect mobile app on IOS or Android devices
Password ID: usfs
Department of the Interior Employees:
Call 1-800-869-0276
Online: https://care.espyr.com/
Mobile: download the Espyr Connect mobile app on IOS or Android devices
Organization ID: interioreap
Learn more: https://www.doi.gov/pmb/hr/eap
Health and Wellbeing Contacts
Each agency provides behavioral health and wellbeing resources and has designated a point of contact.
USDA Forest Service
Casualty Assistance and Critical Incident Stress Management
Casualty Assistance Program webpage
Critical Incident Stress Management webpage
Shawna Ray-Delmas
Critical Incident Stress Management & Casualty Assistance Program Specialist
shawn.ray-delmas@usda.gov
Health and Wellbeing
Alexis Waldron
Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Coordinator
alexis.b.waldron@usda.gov
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Narisa Tappitake
Tribal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program Manager
narisa.tappitake@bia.gov
Catherine Kaminski
National Mental Health and Wellbeing Program Manager
catherine.kaminski@bia.gov
Nelda St. Clair
National Critical Incident Stress Management Coordinator
nelda.stclair@bia.gov
Bureau of Land Management
Carmen Thomason
National Critical Incident Stress Management Program Manager
cthomaso@blm.gov
National Park Service
Wellness & Resilience Portal (for employees)
Alyssa Givens
Health and Wellness Coordinator
alyssa_givens@nps.gov
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Mental Health and Wellness Intranet (for employees)
Candace Shepherd, LCSW, LISW-CP, CEAP
Wildland Fire Health and Wellbeing Coordinator
candace_shepherd@fws.gov