mental health

First responders are more likely to experience mental health conditions than the general public. This week, firefighters, police officers and therapy dogs met at a mental health conference in Casper to address the toll their jobs can take.

Richard Midgette was fired on Valentine’s Day in the first wave of federal layoffs of probationary national parks employees. Just over a month later, he was rehired and then let go again. The first firing especially took a serious toll on his mental health.

This comes amid Trump administration cuts to special services on the 988 hotline.

With 16-hour days for weeks straight, long separation from friends and family, and regular exposure to serious immediate and long-term risks, wildland fire pushes people to both their physical and mental limits. But the recently launched federal Wildland Fire Therapy Service is now available to help those workers ease the mental strain of battling wildfires.

The nonprofit was one of 15 organizations nationwide recognized for its expertise in multigenerational work by the 2Gen Accelerator Community program.

Gov. Mark Gordon shared his thoughts with Wyoming Public Radio’s Chris Clements on the now-concluded legislative session.

On the final day of the Wyoming Legislature’s recent general session, Rep. Tom Kelly (R-Sheridan) walked up to a lectern and spoke about his personal experience with navigating family health issues.

Two bills related to the University of Wyoming made moves through the Legislature this week. One would create a student loan repayment program for veterans who provide mental health care to other vets, and the other is related to the Hathaway Scholarship.

The Wyoming Department of Health is asking for over $18 million in its supplemental budget request. A majority of the funds would go toward increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates in an attempt to retain physicians.

The legislature’s interim Education Committee failed to pass a draft bill that would have created a statewide mental health policy for K-12 schools. But one lawmaker is already trying to figure out ways to continue the work.