The US Department of the Interior and the USDA Forest Service on Tuesday announced the opening of access to a mental health provider network for the nation’s wildland firefighters.

The “Wildland Fire Therapy Service” was established under the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program, which began under the Biden Administration in 2024 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The service is designed to address the unique mental health needs of those in emergency management positions, according to a press release from the DOI.

Any wildland firefighter with the Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can access the therapy service, regardless of whether they are in a permanent, temporary, seasonal, or year-round position. Eligible individuals can get up to 16 sessions per year at no cost.

Available therapy services include sessions to address acute stress reactions, anxiety, complex grief, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use concerns related to traumatic events or cumulative emotional strain from working in wildland fire, according to the therapy service’s website. The services are provided through Magellan Federal, a business management consultancy agency. The sessions reportedly include initial assessments and psychotherapy sessions through in-person or virtual appointments. In-person appointments will be prioritized as they are known to increase the effectiveness of treatment, the website said.

“Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line to protect us, our resources and our communities. We are so grateful for their service, and we are happy to provide them with more support if they need it,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in the press release. “As we approach peak fire season, access to mental health services for our firefighters and first responders will now be easier and more convenient so we can continue to have the best wildland firefighting force in the world.”