Mental health in aviation is a critical issue affecting pilots and the entire aviation ecosystem. The high-pressure environment, long hours, irregular schedules, and extended periods away from home can cause significant stress on pilots, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout.
There is limited research on mental health issues among pilots, but studies suggest that pilots may be at higher risk than the general population. Here are some statistics based on available research:
A survey of 1,848 commercial pilots in 2015 found that 4.1% of respondents reported having suicidal thoughts within the previous two weeks, compared to 3.7% of adults in the general population.
The same survey found that 12.6% of pilots reported experiencing symptoms of depression, compared to 7.1% of adults in the general population.
A 2017 study of 2,500 pilots in the United States found that 29% of respondents had experienced symptoms of depression within the previous two weeks, and 4.1% had experienced suicidal thoughts within the last two weeks.
The same study found that 12.6% of respondents had been diagnosed with depression at some point, and 4.1% had been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
It's important to note that these statistics are based on self-reported data and may not reflect the full extent of mental health issues among pilots.
The industry has traditionally taken a reactive approach to mental health, addressing it only after an incident or accident. However, we do see improvements with airlines and aviation regulatory bodies implementing more proactive measures to prevent and manage mental health issues among pilots.
One such measure is the implementation of peer-support programs that allow pilots to confidentially share their concerns with other pilots who have undergone similar experiences. Additionally, airlines provide mental health resources and training to pilots, including access to mental health professionals and stress management techniques.
The FAA has also implemented regulations that require pilots to disclose their mental health status to their employers and undergo regular mental health assessments. These regulations aim to detect and manage mental health issues early and prevent them from escalating into more severe problems. But as pilots know, losing your medical can cost you a great deal of time, money, resources, and sometimes your job.
"Pilots believe that being vulnerable, and sharing feelings or struggles, such as anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, would be at best humiliating or embarrassing, and, at worst, the end of their flying career."
Reyne O'Shaughnessy, a retired airline pilot and author of "This Is Your Captain Speaking," shared in a recent interview. Captain Reyne was featured on an AVIATE roundtable last year, focusing on mental health in aviation.
Each season, I intentionally dedicate an episode to discussing mental health in aviation. When I read about Tammy Jo Shults, a retired Navy fighter pilot and commercial airline pilot who grew up on a ranch in Texas, I immediately knew she would be an influential guest on this podcast. When I further learned Tammie Jo's story and how she gained national recognition for safely landing Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 after an engine failure in April 2018, I invited her to share her story and anchor our conversation around mental health.
Shults was one of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy and flew the F/A-18 Hornet in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. She later became a commercial airline pilot and joined Southwest Airlines in 1993, where she continued to fly until her retirement in 2020. Shults' skill and composure during the emergency landing of Flight 1380 were widely praised and credited with saving the lives of the passengers and crew on board.
Tammie Jo, welcome!
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