A Mental Health Resource Hub for Alberta Forestry Personnel
Wayfound, in partnership with the Government of Alberta Ministry of Forests and Parks, is committed to supporting the mental well-being of forestry personnel. This resource hub provides tailored mental health support, tools, and services to help you stay resilient in the face of the challenges you encounter on the job.
You are not alone—we’re here to help.
Wayfound clinicians deployed during the 2025 fire season.
Big Changes
Big Changes
New Mental Health Coverage
Based on your feedback, we’ve taken steps to remove barriers and improve how support shows up for you with clearer pathways and simpler access.
Through a new contract with the Government of Alberta, all Forestry employees, both seasonal and full-time, now have access to unlimited individual psychological sessions, EAR acupuncture, and assessment services with Wayfound Mental Health Group. Help starts here, and it’s easier than before.
See link below to schedule an appointment, or if after hours call our emergency line.
1-888-314-2646: after hours emergency (4pm to 8am and weekends)
403-850-6711: non-emergency
Help Starts Here
Coverage provided to you at no cost through the Government of Alberta. Our clinicians understand the unique challenges faced by public service professionals and specialize in helping professionals manage stress, compassion fatigue, trauma, and life’s general challenges — so you can stay healthy, resilient, and supported. Appointments are scheduled with a registered psychologist who has experience and competency working with first responders, and who has completed special training to understand the unique needs and experiences of forestry personnel.
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As a Government of Alberta employee, you dedicate yourself to serving the public. At Wayfound, we’re dedicated to supporting you.
Discover a range of therapeutic resources, counseling options, and expert guidance tailored to your unique needs. We have over 40 clinicians for you to choose from in our Calgary and Edmonton locations. Let us be your partner on the journey to mental wellness. Contact us today to book an appointment.
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Psycho-diagnostic assessments are comprehensive evaluations designed to clarify an individual's psychological functioning and identify potential mental health disorders. These assessments integrate multiple sources of information-including structured clinical interviews, standardized psychometric testing, behavioral observations, and collateral data-to provide a thorough understanding of the individual's emotional, cognitive, and personality functioning. All assessments are conducted by registered psychologists or supervised clinicians using current ethical and professional standards.
The results provide clients with objective, evidence-based insights to support informed decision-making and targeted intervention planning. Referrals can be made through Wayfound's online referral system (linked below) or by giving the office a call to set up a consultation.
Assessment Intake -
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that involves puncturing the skin with thin needles. It is primarily used to treat pain. Chinese medicine doesn’t see a separation between mind and body, and emotional ailments are just as important to address as physical ailments; they often go hand-in-hand. Ear acupuncture helps us process life’s stresses and down-regulates the sympathetic nervous system allowing for a relief from the fight-or-flight state we often get stuck in.
Book An Appointment
Additional Coverage Information
In addition to the services provided to you through Wayfound and the Government of Alberta, you can access information on other benefits available to Alberta Public Service Employees, including benefit coverage for mental health support for family members, and the Telus Health EFAP program. Learn how to maximize your coverage and find resources to support your well-being on and off the job. You may also be eligible for workers compensation coverage, and we can help you navigate the process.
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Your mental health coverage with Alberta Forestry is dependent on your employment and the options you’ve chosen for coverage within your extended bennefits. Choose the correct category below to review your health plan:
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All Alberta Forestry employees have access to the Telus Health EFAP program at no cost. Click below for more information.
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Psychological injuries from traumatic event(s) at work
When you experience traumatic event(s) at work, this can result in a psychological injury or stress that can be personally devastating and require treatment to resolve. A claim for a psychological injury can be accepted when you develop a confirmed psychological injury after experiencing a traumatic event(s) at work. The psychologists at Wayfound can help you determine your eligibility for a claim.
What is a traumatic event?
A traumatic event at work is defined as direct personal experience of an event or directly witnessing an event that is:
· sudden/unexpected,
· frightening or shocking,
· having a specific time and place, and
· involves actual or threatened death or serious injury to oneself or others or threat to one’s physical integrity (i.e. assault).
Interpersonal relations between a worker and co-workers, management or customers may be traumatic when they result in behaviours that are aggressive, threatening or abusive and satisfy the overall definition as listed above.
How does WCB make a decision to accept a claim?
WCB accepts a confirmed psychological injury when it developed as a result of exposure to a traumatic event(s) at work.
A confirmed psychological or psychiatric injury is one that has been diagnosed by a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist as defined in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM). Wayfound psychologists will assess you for claim eligibility on your first visit and file a report directly with WCB if eligible.
What you can expect when your claim is submitted
When WCB receives information indicating you may have experienced stressors at work over time and you have a psychological injury, they may help you start treatment immediately (as needed).
In the meantime, they will confirm both the nature and source of the stressors and the psychological diagnosis. This is confirmed by Wayfound psychologists using the criteria established in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
To confirm coverage, they may need to gather additional information like medical assessments, interviews with other stakeholders, witness statements, and/or any additional relevant information to support work relatedness and clarify the diagnosis.
recovery.
What happens if my claim is not approved?
WCB may be able to offer help in other ways.
They will help you understand how you may qualify for help and what support is available to help you access treatment and achieve recovery.
Mental Health Resouces and Training
Mental Health Minute Library
Take a moment to explore our Mental Health Minute Library for quick tips and supportive strategies to help you and/or your crews stay grounded, focused, and connected throughout the demands of the job.
Stress Management Exercises
This section offers practical, on-the-go exercises designed to help you manage stress in real time, as well as maintain your overall well-being during the rigorous demands of the wildfire season.
PRINT IT. POST IT. POCKET IT.
Mental health support works best when it's easy to find.
Print posters and wallet cards that can be displayed in common areas, camps, offices, vehicles, and workspaces. These quick-reference resources help ensure support information is always close at hand when it's needed.
Want more?
If you're looking for additional tools, visit the Before Operational Stress (BOS) Program. BOS is a research backed, resiliency-based training designed specifically for first response employees and organizational support staff. Alberta Forestry and Wildfire employees are eligible to access the full training at no cost—just use the code: ABForestry2026
Family & Spouse Support
The families and spouses of AB Forestry personnel play a crucial role in providing support during high-stress fire seasons. This section offers resources to help spouses and loved ones manage stress, and support mental well-being. Find guidance on communication, resilience, and peer support to navigate the unique challenges of this profession together.