Federal Employee Mental Health Resources 2026: EAP, Leave, and Support Guide

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Reading Time: 10 min

You have more mental health support than you probably realize. EAP counseling, sick leave, FMLA protections, FEHB coverage. It's all there. The problem is that nobody has put it in one place and explained how to actually use it.

This guide does that. Your rights, your resources, how to access them without broadcasting your personal business.

Key Takeaways

• Federal employees get 6-12 free EAP counseling sessions per issue, fully confidential, no supervisor notification
• You can use sick leave for therapy with no limit on your accrued balance, and you don't have to disclose the reason beyond "medical appointment"
• FMLA covers mental health conditions like depression and anxiety for up to 12 weeks per year
• FEHB plans must cover mental health at the same level as physical health under federal parity law
• Your EAP usage is legally protected and confidential. Your agency HR and supervisor will not know

Your five core mental health benefits

Federal employees have five distinct resources for mental health. Most people only know about one or two.

Resource	What It Covers	Cost	Confidential?
EAP	Short-term counseling (6-12 sessions)	Free	Yes, legally protected
Sick Leave	Time off for therapy appointments	Paid (from balance)	Diagnosis not disclosed
FMLA	12 weeks for serious mental health conditions	Unpaid (or use sick leave)	Protected
FEHB	Therapy, psychiatry, medication, inpatient	Copay varies by plan	Yes (HIPAA)
FOH Wellness	Workplace wellness programs, stress management	Free	Varies by program

Let's break each one down.

How EAP works (and why it's underused)

The Employee Assistance Program should be your first call. Every federal agency has one, and it's the fastest path to talking to a licensed counselor.

What EAP provides:

• 6-12 free counseling sessions per issue (not per year)
• Licensed counselors trained in workplace stress, relationships, financial anxiety, and substance use
• In-person, phone, or video sessions
• Referrals to long-term providers when needed
• Crisis support 24/7

How to access it:

1. Find your agency's EAP number (usually on your agency intranet or ID badge holder)
2. Call directly. You don't need supervisor approval
3. Schedule your first session. Many EAPs offer same-week appointments
4. Attend in person, by phone, or via video

What your supervisor sees: Nothing. EAP is confidential. Your supervisor won't receive a notification, a report, or a bill. The only exception is if you disclose an imminent safety threat to yourself or others.

This is the biggest misconception holding people back. A lot of federal employees worry that using EAP gets flagged somewhere. It doesn't. The confidentiality protections are real and legally enforced.

The "per issue" detail matters. If you use 8 sessions for workplace stress and later need help with a family issue, you get a fresh set of sessions. It's per problem, not per calendar year.

Using sick leave for mental health

You can use sick leave for therapy, psychiatry, or any mental health appointment. The rules are the same as using sick leave for a dentist or a doctor.

What the regulations say:

• Federal employees can use sick leave for medical, dental, or mental health appointments
• There's no separate approval process for mental health vs. physical health
• You can use sick leave in increments as small as 15 minutes for recurring appointments
• There's no limit on your accrued sick leave balance for this purpose

What you tell your supervisor: You say: "I need sick leave for a medical appointment." Full stop. You do not need to say it's for therapy. You do not need to name your provider or your condition. For appointments of 3 days or fewer, your supervisor can only ask for "administratively acceptable evidence" if there's a pattern of abuse.

Planning recurring therapy sessions: If you're going to therapy weekly or biweekly, your sick leave adds up. A one-hour appointment might cost 1-2 hours of sick leave depending on travel time. That's 4-8 hours per month.

Use the Federal Leave Optimizer to map out your sick leave usage alongside annual leave throughout the year. This helps you avoid running low on leave balances when you also need time off for holidays or vacation.

FMLA coverage for mental health conditions

The Family and Medical Leave Act covers serious mental health conditions. If your depression, anxiety, PTSD, or another condition qualifies, you get up to 12 weeks of FMLA-protected leave per 12-month period.

What qualifies as "serious" under FMLA:

• A condition requiring inpatient care (hospitalization for mental health)
• A condition involving incapacity of 3+ consecutive days plus continuing treatment by a healthcare provider
• Chronic conditions requiring periodic treatment (ongoing therapy for depression, for example)

Key details:

• FMLA leave is unpaid by default, but you can substitute accrued sick leave or annual leave to keep your paycheck coming
• You can take FMLA in blocks (a week off) or intermittently (two hours every Wednesday for therapy)
• Your job is protected. You return to the same or equivalent position
• Your FEHB coverage continues during FMLA leave

How to request it:

1. Notify your supervisor that you need FMLA leave (you can say "for a serious health condition" without details)
2. Submit a medical certification from your provider (this goes to HR, not your supervisor)
3. HR approves or denies based on the certification
4. Your leave is tracked separately from regular sick/annual leave usage

The intermittent FMLA option is what most people miss. You don't have to take 12 weeks off in a row. If your therapist says you need weekly sessions during work hours, that can count as intermittent FMLA. Your supervisor has to accommodate it.

What FEHB covers for mental health

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, your FEHB plan must cover mental health and substance use services at the same level as physical health services. That includes individual therapy, group and family therapy, psychiatry, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and prescription medication through your pharmacy benefit.

The specifics depend on your plan, but here's what typical FEHB plans cover:

Coverage	BCBS Standard	GEHA Standard	BCBS Basic
Outpatient therapy	$30 copay/visit	$25 copay/visit	$35 copay/visit
Psychiatry	$30 copay/visit	$25 copay/visit	$35 copay/visit
Inpatient mental health	$250/admission	$200/day (5 day max)	$300/admission
Telehealth therapy	$0-$30 copay	$0 copay	$15 copay

Telehealth tip: Most FEHB plans now cover virtual therapy at the same rate or lower than in-person. If you can't find a provider nearby, or just don't want to sit in a waiting room, telehealth works.

When EAP runs out: After your free EAP sessions end, your EAP counselor can refer you to a provider in your FEHB network. Ask them to handle the referral so you don't have a gap between your last EAP session and your first appointment with a new provider.

Federal Occupational Health (FOH) wellness programs

Federal Occupational Health, part of HHS, provides workplace wellness services to many federal agencies. Programs vary by agency but typically include stress management workshops, work-life balance programs, health coaching, and ergonomic assessments. They're usually free through your agency's FOH partnership. Check your agency intranet for what's available.

FOH also runs the EAP for many agencies. If you're not sure who runs your agency's EAP, FOH's general line at (800) 222-0364 can point you in the right direction.

How to get help without telling your whole office

This is the part nobody writes about. You know the resources exist. But you're worried about who finds out. Here's how to keep your mental health care private.

Leave requests:

• Use "medical appointment" on your leave request. That's all you need
• If using FMLA, the medical certification goes to HR, not your supervisor. Your supervisor only gets notice that FMLA was approved, not why

Finding providers:

• Use your FEHB plan's provider directory online, not through your agency
• Telehealth lets you do sessions from home, no office building visit
• EAP counselors are off-site, not in your building

If you need time during the workday:

• Schedule appointments at the start or end of the day when possible
• If mid-day, use sick leave. You don't need to explain further
• Flexible work schedules (AWS, maxiflex) can help you build in recurring appointment blocks

Security clearance concerns: If you hold a security clearance, seeking mental health treatment will not automatically trigger a review. The SF-86 question about mental health was narrowed years ago. Routine counseling, therapy for life stressors, and treatment for common conditions like anxiety or depression do not need to be reported unless they involved court-ordered treatment or posed a risk to classified information.

Ironically, avoiding treatment because of clearance fears can put your clearance at greater risk than getting help would.

Plan your leave for ongoing care

If you're starting therapy, you'll want to think about your leave balances. Weekly therapy sessions use about 4-8 hours of sick leave per month, depending on appointment length and travel time.

Use the Federal Leave Optimizer to see how your sick leave balance holds up alongside your annual leave plans. The optimizer shows you your projected balances through year-end so you can plan without surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use sick leave for therapy appointments?

Yes. Federal employees can use sick leave for mental health counseling with no cap on your accrued balance. You don't need to tell your supervisor specifically that it's for mental health, only that you need sick leave for a medical appointment.

How many free EAP counseling sessions do federal employees get?

Most agency EAPs provide 6 to 12 free, confidential counseling sessions per issue. Sessions can be in-person, by phone, or virtual. You contact your agency's EAP directly and don't need supervisor approval.

Can my supervisor find out I used EAP?

No. EAP services are confidential. Your supervisor will not be notified that you used EAP. The only exception is an imminent safety threat. EAP confidentiality is legally protected.

Can I get FMLA leave for depression or anxiety?

Yes, if it qualifies as a serious health condition under FMLA, meaning incapacity of 3 or more days with continuing treatment. Federal employees get 12 weeks of FMLA-protected leave per year. You can use accrued sick leave to keep it paid.

Does FEHB cover mental health counseling?

Yes. Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, FEHB plans must cover mental health services at the same level as physical health services. This includes therapy, psychiatry, and inpatient treatment.

Can I attend EAP sessions during work hours?

In most agencies, yes. Supervisors can grant administrative time for EAP sessions during duty hours. Check your agency's specific EAP policy, but the standard practice is to allow time during the workday.

What if I need more sessions than EAP covers?

EAP counselors can refer you to longer-term providers covered by your FEHB plan. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan. Many FEHB plans cover 20-30 therapy sessions per year with a copay.

Related Resources

• Federal Leave Optimizer: Plan sick leave for recurring therapy alongside annual leave
• Federal Leave Options Guide 2026: Complete guide to FMLA, LWOP, and other leave types
• FEHB Guide 2026: Full breakdown of health plan coverage and costs
• RIF Survival Guide 2026: Resources for employees facing workforce uncertainty
• OPM EAP Resources: Official OPM guidance on EAP programs
• DOL FMLA Fact Sheet 28O: FMLA and mental health conditions