Pilot mental health is something that comes into the spotlight whenever there’s an aviation accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) places strict requirements on pilots and other aviation professionals to ensure they’re fit to fly. As a result of these requirements, an estimated 5,000 pilots are thought to be hiding mental health difficulties.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the challenges faced by pilots when it comes to their mental well-being and how fostering a culture of openness and support could help make aviation safer.
Unique Mental Health Challenges for Aviation Professionals
Pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals have high-stakes jobs. They’re responsible for the lives of their passengers and coworkers and required to perform to the highest standards every day. They’re also under constant scrutiny to ensure they’re doing so.
This pressure can result in aviation professionals feeling stressed and burned out. Those difficulties can be compounded by social and professional stigmas surrounding mental health. Many pilots put off seeking help for stress, depression or mental health issues because they’re worried about losing their flight certifications if they have to disclose these challenges.
The Pressure to Perform and Fear of Career Consequences
Training to become a pilot is expensive and takes many years, and the job market is competitive, especially for commercial airline positions. Many pilots fear that if they have to seek help for mental illness or take time off due to health issues, they’ll face loss of income in the short term and other consequences in the long term.
Pilots who are taken off the flight line have to go through an arduous process to be permitted to fly again. Even if they’re given their certifications back, they may fear discrimination from other pilots or their superiors and worry about having to go through more frequent reviews or severe scrutiny of their well-being in the future.
The FAA requirements exist to protect public safety. However, many in the airline industry believe the requirements are too strict. In 2024, the FAA released a landmark report on aviation professional mental health. This report made several recommendations for changes in mental health policies intended to make it easier for pilots to seek help for minor mental health challenges without fear that doing so would impact their careers.
Why Pilots and Crew May Avoid Seeking Help
The FAA requires all airline pilots to undergo regular medical examinations to confirm their physical and mental health. The frequency of these examinations varies depending on the pilot’s age and the type of flying they do. During these examinations, pilots must report any visits to health care professionals that they’ve made during the past 3 years. They must also answer questions about their mental health.
If this examination raises any questions about a pilot’s fitness to fly, they might be referred for further physical or psychological examination. If the FAA receives any information from other sources suggesting a pilot is unfit to fly, the pilot may be asked to provide documentation certifying their fitness. Many airlines have their own requirements in place that are stricter than FAA requirements.
These requirements make it difficult for pilots to seek help. For example, many pilots avoid talking to a therapist about general stress or challenges in their lives because doing so could cause them to be temporarily suspended while they’re investigated. This fear is understandable. However, it puts the health of the aviation professional and the lives of those they serve at risk.
Encouraging a Culture of Support and Openness
The FAA report makes 24 recommendations aimed at making it easier for aviation professionals to seek health care. The report has been well-received, given that 56% of pilots report putting off or avoiding health care out of fear of being temporarily suspended. If these measures are implemented, they’d go a long way towards improving the mental health landscape in the aviation industry.
However, the FAA is only part of the equation. Individual airlines have their own policies, and there are cultural issues within the industry that must also be addressed. Until pilots, crew members and air traffic controllers feel safe talking about their health and well-being without worry about discrimination from their employers or peers, a culture of denial and avoidance could continue.
The Flight Safety Foundation is promoting a culture of mental health awareness, and many ground schools are also focusing on this issue as a part of their general curriculum. This could help the next generation of pilots take a more positive and proactive approach to mental health.
Available Resources and Confidential Support Options
Pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals struggling with their mental health may find it helpful to seek confidential support. Several organizations specialize in providing mental health support for pilots, either in the form of a nonprofit organization or a peer support group. Some useful organizations include:
- Pilot Mental Health Campaign
- Medaire Wellbeing Services
- Emerald Mental Health
Other general mental health resources may also be useful for someone who’s going through a mental health crisis.
Prioritizing Mental Health Without Compromising Professionalism
The FAA report on mental health challenges paints a promising picture for the future of airline professionals and their well-being. While it’s sadly too late for many aviation professionals who felt they had to suffer in silence during a crisis, coming changes in the industry will hopefully allow pilots to take care of their mental health while continuing to provide a safe, reliable and professional service.
If you’re a pilot, air traffic controller or airline crew member struggling with your mental health, don’t let fear of suspension deter you from seeking the help you need. Your well-being is the most important thing in the long term, and avoiding seeking support could lead to serious consequences further down the line.
The team at Restore Mental Health is here to provide you with confidential advice and support with whatever you’re going through. Contact us today to take the first steps towards recovery.
