By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service have announced expanded mental health support for federal wildland firefighters and dispatchers.
These emergency responders face high levels of stress, trauma, and cumulative stress due to their work in dangerous environments.
The newly expanded service provides access to a network of licensed mental health professionals specializing in the needs of emergency responders.
“Through the dedication and perseverance of our wildland firefighters and dispatchers, the Interior Department continues to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources from the threat of wildfires,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
“By providing essential tools to bolster their resilience, we are strengthening our wildland fire workforce so we can better defend against the growing threat of wildfires across the United States.”
The expanded service is part of the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program, which aims to improve the mental and physical health of wildland fire personnel.
This program is led jointly by the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior and is designed to support both the short-term and long-term health effects of wildland firefighting.
The new service allows year-round access to confidential therapy sessions with licensed professionals who are familiar with the pressures of emergency response work.
Providers will be available in every state, ensuring that wildland firefighters, dispatchers, and support staff have convenient access to care. The service is available to all permanent, temporary, seasonal, and year-round wildland firefighters and dispatchers.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the federal government to improve recruitment and retention in the wildland fire workforce, aiming to create a stronger, more resilient firefighting force to address the growing risks of wildfires.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National