Bringing attention to an issue affecting countless lives
Chief Well-Being Officer Dr. Kalim Wigfall, Work Environment and Performance Office
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month—a time to bring compassionate attention to an issue that touches countless lives. While this month offers a meaningful moment to raise awareness, it's vital to recognize that suicide prevention…
#MentalHealth, #Wellness, suicide prevention
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. When you take care of your mental health, your physical and emotional health improves, you become more resilient, and life stressors become more manageable. Explore the online tools and resources below to help build and maintain resiliency. You can also connect with Employee Support…
#Employees, #Wellness, #MentalHealth
September 2024 Chief's all-employee call | Budget, hiring update
Yesterday, employees joined Chief Moore for an all-employee call to discuss budget and hiring topics.Following an introduction from Chief of Staff Jaelith Hall-Rivera, the Chief discussed the Forest Service budget and hiring discussions and decisions. He began by acknowledging the tremendous effort put forth by Forest Service employees during this extreme fire year. He also acknowledged the role…
#MentalHealth, #Wellness, #EmergencyResponse, #InsideTheForestService
Firefighter finds comfort, healing at Land Between the Lakes
Doug Phelps, a fuels technician with Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area lights a prescribed fire on the Ocala National Forest in Florida in September 2023. (USDA Forest Service photo)
Forestry Technician Doug Phelps grew up visiting Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. He never could have imagined how much the place would…
#WildlandFirefighters, #MentalHealth, #PrescribedFire
2024 Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing program
Aug. 8, 2024 Update: Expanded Mental Health Resources for Federal Wildland Fire Personnel
Deputy Chief John Crockett, State, Private, and Tribal Forestry
We all know that wildland firefighting is a tough and physically dangerous job. But what often doesn’t get talked about enough is the mental toll it takes…
#InfrastructureInvestmentAndJobsAct, #Wellness, #Health, #MentalHealth, #InsideTheForestService
The healing power of nature
Nature can be damaging and cause fear. Natural disasters like wildfires can change landscapes, communities and lives. But nature can also help us heal — instilling a calmness and peace in a sometimes-chaotic world.As fifth and sixth grade students from Greenville Elementary School in Greenville, California, walked along Round Valley Reservoir on the Plumas National Forest, the trees still wore…