Date: June 17, 2025
Contact: Interior_press@ios.doi.gov
Washington –Today, the Ministry of the Interior and the US Department of Forest Service have announced that federal firefighters and federal forest districts now have access to extended mental health support through a network of approved providers. As forced by the congress, the new therapy service is designed to meet the unique needs of emergency management positions.
Earth firefighters and support staff work in dangerous and stressar -based environments that can expose them to trauma and cumulative stress, increasing their risk of mental health challenges. The new service provides a network of approved providers, who have expertise in the treatment of mental health needs of emergency stakeholders.
“Thanks to the dedication and perseverance of our firefighters and forest distributors, the Interior Department continues to protect communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources of the threat of forest fires,” said Interior secretary Doug Burgum. “By providing essential tools to strengthen their resilience, we strengthen our workforce for forest fires so that we can better defend ourselves against the growing threat of forest fires across the United States.”
“The firefighters and the first stakeholders bring their lives into play to protect us, our resources and our communities. We are very grateful to their service, and we are happy to provide them with more support if they need it, ”said The American secretary of the Department of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “While we are approaching the cutting -edge fire season, access to mental health services for our firefighters and our first stakeholders will now be easier and more practical so that we can continue to have the best strength to fight forests in the world.”
This service is only one of the resources available through the Federal Health and Well-Being Program of Wildland firefighters to support the mental and physical health of forest fire staff. Jointly led by agricultural and interior departments, the program seeks to improve our understanding of the mental and physical effects in the short and long -term work in forest fires and to position services to better respond to these health risks.
The new therapy service includes access all year round to confidential therapy sessions with approved mental health professionals who include requests for emergency intervention work. Providers will be available in each state. The service is offered to firefighters and permanent, temporary, seasonal distributors and all year round with the Indian Affairs Office, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the Indian Affairs Bureau of the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The new service is part of a broader effort in the federal government to improve recruitment and retention through the workforce of forest fires and position the nation to respond more effectively to forest fires and to mitigate future risks.
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