“With anxiety and depression on the rise, the FAA needs to do more to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness in the aviation industry so pilots are more likely to report, seek treatment, and take time off work, if needed,” says Yalda Safai, MD, MPH, a psychiatrist in New York City.
People Also Ask
While mental health symptoms are common in airline pilots, getting help can affect their ability to work in a big way.
Recent studies underscore that the prevalence of depression among airline pilots fluctuates between 1.9% and 12.6%, a rate that contrasts with the 7.2% to 12.9% observed in the general population [4].
How many pilots suffer from mental illness? This study found 233 (12.6%) airline pilots meeting depression threshold and 75 (4.1%) pilots reporting having suicidal thoughts.
“The ups and downs are constant, and we fly at all different times of the day,” Deitz says. “It's a stress on your body.” Takeoff and landing are the trickiest parts of a given flight, requiring all of a pilot's attention and mental energy. Heart rate increases during those windows, studies show.
They must be able to deal with bad weather, mechanical problems, and other potential hazards. Pilots also have to be able to stay calm in stressful situations. The lifestyle of a pilot can be very demanding. Pilots often have to travel for long periods of time, which can be difficult for families.
An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.
Being a pilot often means feeling lonely, not just alone, more than the average person. There are also diverse levels between business aviation pilots and the airline pilot because of crew dynamics. Airline pilots fly with strangers more often.
Psychological problems can onset at any time during a pilot's career making it important procedures are in place to identify pilots with mental health conditions or impaired brain function.
The most important part of any career is happiness and passion for what you do which is why one of the biggest advantages of being a pilot is the major job satisfaction that comes with it.
Yes, being a pilot is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for airline and commercial pilots over the next ten years. This is faster than the average growth for all occupations.