Mental Health in Wildland Fire

Mental health is a key component to overall health, no different than physical health. Mental health issues can impact your ability to focus and make critical decisions on the fireline. They also impact overall quality of life. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) established the Mental Health Subcommittee to help firefighters and fire managers better recognize hazards to mental health and wellness, implement preventative strategies, and promote resources available to firefighters.

Below is an introduction to some of the resources available that may help you prepare for, recognize, and navigate stressors at work and at home.

Resources Available

• NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee
• A Preparedness Guide for Firefighters and Their Families, PMS 600 
  Provides honest information, resources, and conversation starters to give you, the wildland firefighter, tools that will be helpful in preparing yourself and your support network for the realities of your career.
• Reset: Firefighter and Family Members’ Reintegration Guide
  This serves as a companion document to the Preparedness Guide. This guide provides information about the reintegration process to help you reunite with your family, friends, and communities. Whether you went on a single assignment or have been on the road all season, this guide provides useful tips for resetting, keeping connections and relationships, managing stress, and navigating end of season closeouts.
• Wildland Fire Mental Health
  This video highlights the importance of mental health, risk factors, recognition of symptoms, and resources available to wildland firefighters. Open communication and willingness to have hard conversations are foundational to breaking stigmas to mental health.
• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Desk Reference
  The CISM program provides crisis intervention techniques and trained peer support to assist employees after a critical injury or fatality. The CISM Desk Reference provides a high-level introduction to the program, including pre-incident education to promote resiliency and awareness, incident response to aid recovery, and involvement through peer support.
• Stress First Aid
  This curriculum emphasizes basic steps in recognizing stress and simple tools for addressing stress.

Discussion Questions:

• How do you prepare for the season or an assignment?
• How do you regroup after the season or assignment?
• How does your resource or unit support each other through the season or through stressful events?
• How do you show signs of stress? How do you handle stress? How do you like to be helped?