Behavioral Health Program

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(link is external) 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 climate change propels more extreme wildfires and longer periods of wildfire activity.

Current Efforts to Address Mental Health for Wildland Fire Personnel

The U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service are developing a joint behavioral health program, announced in June 2022, at the direction of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program will address the unique experiences and mental health challenges experienced by permanent, temporary, seasonal, and year-round wildland fire personnel.

The joint program will facilitate access to resources and care by linking firefighters to appropriate resources and providing access to clinical services, prevention, and mental and behavioral health training.

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.

In April 2023, the departments hosted a three-day planning summit to spearhead the development of the joint program. Participants examined what is already known about wildland firefighter mental health and the resources that are currently available, then collectively defined a vision, framework, and implementation plan for the program. Some initial themes that clearly emerged during the summit included: 

• Validation of the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses mental and physical health;
• A need for access to trauma-informed, culturally-competent clinicians and case management services; and 
• A need to improve the current firefighter culture to empower and support firefighter health and wellbeing. 

The departments are currently using the input received to develop the joint program and are increasing staffing to support its implementation.

Behavioral Health Officers

To provide additional prevention and education services for wildland fire personnel, behavioral health officers from the U.S. Public Health Service have been assigned to the Interior Department and USDA Forest Service to support the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program. They have begun training and will be ready to support wildland firefighter behavioral health in starting in the winter of 2024.  

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.

While they will support the entire joint program, each behavioral health officer will help a designated geographic area increase mental health awareness and support wildland firefighter wellbeing. They will 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 will work in coordination with bureau and agency leads and existing resources to synergize prevention and early intervention for all federal wildland fire personnel.

The behavioral health officers participated in an orientation with the interagency wildland fire community at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, in September 2024. They were immersed in agency-specific information and the unique challenges faced by wildland firefighters and their families as they prepare to begin offering services this winter.