Mental Health — Seeking Support

It’s common for the maintenance of our mental and emotional wellbeing to be postponed for the demands of wildland firefighting; however, there may be times in your career when you cannot delay your need for professional support. Recognizing your own need to seek support or reaching out when someone on your team is struggling can be just as impactful as calling out a hazard on the fireline. Learn to recognize when help is needed and what resources are available. This topic aims to expand our definition of safety to include mental wellbeing.

Sunrise with firefighters silhouetted against the sky walking along a ridge with a body of water in front.

Your Mental Health Matters

Mental health and physical safety are interconnected. When stress and trauma go unaddressed, they can cloud judgement, slow reaction times, and impair communication, ultimately jeopardizing individual safety as well as the safety of their entire team.

When to Seek Professional Support

You may benefit from working with a mental health professional if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Problems are lingering and not getting better — especially beyond 30 days.
You have prolonged, intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, guilt, worry, anxiety, or anger.
You notice changes in your behaviors, such as isolating or withdrawing from others, problems with your sleep or appetite, or increased use of alcohol or drugs to cope.
You have difficulty functioning or concentrating on everyday tasks at work, school, or home.
You have continuous conflicts, detachment, and problems in relationships with loved ones.
Family and friends repeatedly voice concern for you.
You experience physical symptoms, such as chronic headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue without a medical basis.

Check with your employer and health insurance provider for available resources. Different resources may be helpful at different phases of your career and for different circumstances.

Discussion Questions:

What might prevent firefighters from seeking professional mental health support? How can we overcome those barriers?
How can we support a colleague who is experiencing mental health challenges?
Seeing a mental health professional is a healthy outlet, yet there is still a stigma attached. How does your crew talk about seeking support?
Review the resources in the references below to discover what’s available for you and your crew.

References:

Additional Resources:

For more behavioral health resources and information please see the information below.

Behavioral Health Officers
- Send an email identifying your geographic area to reach the appropriate person
Wildland Firefighter Foundation
- Contact the Mental Health Coordinator

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Last Modified / Reviewed: 2025-10-07

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NEW! S-231, Engine Boss Course Available Now

Date: March 6, 2026
Questions?
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) incident qualifications.

This is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of ENGB responsibilities during wildland fire operations, emphasizing readiness, information gathering, risk management, engine tactics, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations. Trainees apply these skills through scenario-based group work and an optional field day that reinforces hands-on engine operation tasks.

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NWCG Celebrates 50 Years!

Date: March 6, 2026
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Please contact: NWCG Executive Secretary

NWCG is proud to celebrate 50 years of service to the wildland fire community. Beginning in 1976 with an interagency agreement between the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture, NWCG has grown to include additional member agencies and is recognized as the standard-setting leader in wildland fire operations.

To honor where we’ve been and highlight where we are going, the NWCG team has created a video showcasing our history and accomplishments. The video is now available on the NWCG website.

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NWCG 50 Year Anniversary Video

NEW! S-131, Firefighter Type 1 Course Available Now

Date: March 6, 2026
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Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-131, Firefighter Type 1 course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this course is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of situational awareness and decision making, building on the knowledge and concepts introduced in previous required courses. Using a threaded fictitious fire, each unit focuses on a performance-based activity in which students practice applying their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The S-131, Firefighter Type 1 course is required for individuals seeking qualifications to be a Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1) or an Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).

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S-131, Firefighter Type 1 (Instructor-led)

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2026 Professional Reading List

Date: March 4, 2026
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Please contact: WFLDP Curriculum Management

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) is announcing the 2026 Professional Reading List. The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the selected books throughout the year.

The six books chosen for this year are: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink; Meditations by Marcus Aurelious; Quiet by Susan Cain; The Little Book of Stoic Quotes by Phil Van Treuren; and The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser.