Key Resources
WorkLife4You (WL4Y) is the Department of State’s 24/7 comprehensive and confidential resource and referral service for employees and their family members. WL4Y provides free 24/7 education, and referral services that help Department of State employees and family members find the programs, providers, information, and resources they need to manage personal and professional responsibilities. Counselors will help determine what services are needed and available and refer to appropriate providers. Call them for 24/7 personalized assistance, read articles and educational guides on their website, order topic related kits, engage in monthly live talks, watch webinars and listen to audios or ask for a free in-person elder care assessment from a qualified Professional Care Manager.
Department of State, both Civil Service and Foreign Service employees and family members are eligible to use WorkLife4You.
** Employees of agencies other than the Department of State should check with their headquarters for guidance pertaining to their contracted Employee Assistance Program.
Employee Consultation Services (ECS) offers free, confidential counseling with professional clinical social workers to Department of State employees and family members. They can assist with job stress, marital and relationship problems, parent and child problems, single parent and blended family concerns, school adjustment problems, elderly parent concerns, separation, loss and grief, acute and chronic medical illness, depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems, financial concerns, life transitions, new career/retirement issues, and pre-post departure and reentry concerns. Please click here to find information regarding suicide prevention. Contact ECS at MEDECS@state.gov or 202-634-4874.
Employee Consultation Services (ECS) — Virtual Support Groups Open to Members of All Foreign Affairs Agencies and Locally Employed Staff
- Anxiety Management (AM) Group
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET
- Cancer Support Group
Meets the 1st Thursday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Divorce and Separation Support Group
Meets on Tuesday every three weeksTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Eldercare Support Group
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Embracing Retirement Support Group
Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Embracing Uncomfortable Emotions
Meets the 4th Wednesday of each monthTime: 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET - Friends & Family Affected by Mental Illness
Meets the 4th Tuesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Grief Support Group
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Kaleidoscope: People of Color (POC) Support Group
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Parents of Adolescent Children 12-16 Years Support Group
Meets the 4th Wednesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Parents of Children 4-11 Years Support Group
Meets the 1st Wednesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Parents & Caregivers of Children with ADHD Diagnosis
Meets the 4th Wednesday of each monthTime: 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET - Single Parenting Support Group
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Singles Support Group
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each monthTime: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET - Support Group for People Impacted by Antisemitism
Meets the 1st Tuesday of each month
Time: Varies – please contact ECS
ECS Classes
- Mindful Tuesdays Class
Meets every Tuesday weekly
Time: 4:15pm – 4:45pm ET - Mindful Wednesdays
Meets every Wednesday weekly
Time: 4:15pm – 4:45pm ET - Fridays @ Noon Mindfulness Class
Meets every Friday weekly
Time: 12:00pm – 12:45pm ET - Perfectly Imperfect Self-Esteem Class
Meets Wednesdays – contact ECS for exact dates and to register
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Please reach out to ECS at the Department of State for additional details:
- MEDECS@state.gov
- +1-202-634-4874
State Department Affiliated Mutual Help Groups – Open to Members of All Foreign Affairs Agencies and Locally Employed Staff
State of Serenity (SOS)
A 12-step meeting for those in or seeking recovery
Meets: Mon/Wed/Fri
Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm ET
Contact MEDECS@state.gov for dial-in details
Diplomatic Sobriety
An online Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Meets Sundays
Time: 8:00am – 9:00am ET
Email diplomatic.sobriety@gmail.com for details
State of Grace
An online Al-Anon Meeting
Meets Tuesdays
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET
Email stateofgraceafg@gmail.com for details
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) is part of MED Mental Health Services and is comprised of several key components, including short-term counseling in the Employee Assistance Program at Department of State (DOS). ADAP provides services to all DOS and USAID employees and family members, and to other eligible U.S. Government employees and their family members who have Health Unit privileges overseas. For more information email MEDECS@state.gov or call: 202-634-4874.
The Center of Excellence in Foreign Affairs Resilience (CEFAR) offers several Resilience Boosting Webinars that cover a wide range of topics.
Community Liaison Offices (CLO) provide support to employees and families at post as well as specific support to families who remain at post during an Unaccompanied Tour. They can also help connect you to the Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist (RMO/P) for your post or to other available resources. Request contact information for your CLO at GCLOAskCLO@state.gov.
Deployment Stress Management Program (DSMP) is managed by the Bureau of Medical Services and offers prevention, intervention, assessment, treatment, counseling, education, and referral services covering the spectrum of the pre-deployment cycle through after reintegration. DSMP can also help you increase your resilience or manage any concerns during deployment and reintegration. These services are available to employees and families who are experiencing the effects of being assigned to a high stress/high threat post. Contact at MEDECS@state.gov or 703-812-2257.
USAID Staff Care ensures the wellbeing and work-life balance of USAID’s total workforce (all hiring categories) and their dependents through a range of programs and services. USAID has partnered with Federal Occupational Health (FOH) to deliver a secure, confidential Staff Care website that provides a central location to access the Employee Assistance / Employee Resilience Program (EAP/ERP), Wellness, Work-Life, and Child Subsidy Programs. Services are available 24/7. Contact at support@usaidstaffcarecenter.net or 877-988-7243 (877-98USAID).
Resources for Youth
The Foreign Service Youth Foundation (FSYF) is a non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the support of children of employees of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies. Through publications, contests, workshops, and regular family events, they help young people adapt to their transitions between posts worldwide. The Youth Mental Health page has an extensive list of mental health resources and providers for both overseas and in the U.S. For more information, go to www.fsyf.org or email fsyf@fsyf.org
Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) is a non-profit organization that provides education and support through free, weekly support group meetings for parents of loved ones who struggle with Substance Use Disorder.
The Science of Well-Being for Teens Course was developed by cognitive scientist and Professor of Psychology at Yale University, Dr. Laurie Santos. Dr. Santos created a 6-week course that is available for free on Coursera that aims to curb teen mental health crises by bringing together the best insights from her Yale course Psychology and the Good Life. In this course, participants will explore what the field of psychology teaches about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school and beyond. The lessons along with short weekly ‘happiness homework’ assignments will help prepare participants to put these scientific findings into practice. Videos of the Science of Well-Being for Teens Course are also available on YouTube.
Additional Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Call at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit: samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 or visit: 988lifeline.org.
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) – International Suicide Prevention Resource works to prevent suicide through public awareness, education and serve as a resource for suicide survivors. To find international resources for suicide prevention visit: save.org/find-help/international-resources.
Befrienders Worldwide – International Suicide Prevention Helplines and Resources provides an open space for those in distress to talk and be heard. They provide assistance and support via telephone helplines, SMS messaging, face to face, internet chat, outreach and local partnerships. For more information and assistance, visit: befrienders.org.
Disclaimer
Listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department State or the U.S. government of the entity, its views or the products or services it provides. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.