Health and well-being: Forest Service employee resources
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to spotlighting mental health issues and combating associated stigmas, and in which the agency hosted its now annual Employee Wellbeing Week, we'd like to provide a brief reminder about the many resources the agency offers to support you and your families.
One of our core values is safety, and we don't mean just work safety; that encompasses personal safety as well. Over the past few years, we've used the term "resilient" quite often, yet we realize that can set unrealistic expectations. You don't always need to be resilient. If you need support, please reach out to your community or seek professional help.. There is no stigma in ensuring your emotional and mental well-being needs are met alongside your physical needs.
Our job is to care—to care for our own, for the people we serve and for the lands we manage. Even as we focus on our mission, we know there are many needs unmet—the immediate needs of our employees, of our organizational structure and facilities, and of the communities we serve. We can't sustain our national forests and grasslands without first sustaining ourselves.
Most of us have our ways of taking care of ourselves, but it’s important to know where to get help and to have a stronger understanding of the help others may need.
If you need support, the Work Environment and Performance Office offers several resources. To start, the Employee Support and Wellbeing Branch is dedicated to supporting your comprehensive health, wellness and resilience—physical, mental and emotional. As part of the Employee Assistance Program, it offers access to Espyr, which provides certified health coaches, and TalkNow, which ensures anyone in the midst of crisis doesn't have to wait for help. If you're in crisis, you can speak directly to a licensed counselor right away—no appointment required.
Make sure you bookmark the following resources, and remember: It's OK not to be OK.
Employee Resources