Health and Wellbeing Resources

No one has to go it alone. Resources are available to help wildland fire personnel with mental health and wellness. Photo by Ave through Adobe Stock.

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

          Wendy Mortier
          National Casualty Assistance Program Specialist and
          National Critical Incident Stress Management Coordinator
          wendy.mortier@usda.gov

          Todd Lerke
          National Casualty Assistance Program Specialist
          james.lerke@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
          Dr. Patricia O’Brien
          National Mental Health and Wellbeing Program Manager
          paobrien@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)

          Holly Foshay
          National Mental Health Specialist
          holland_foshay@fws.gov