Mental Health Services Crucial for All Pilots

Here’s where aviators can turn for support—and why it’s important when the struggle with identity underlies any illness.

Julie Boatman

Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 01:35 PM ET

Verified

The best message for any pilot facing mental health concerns is that you are not alone—and there are numerous resources to tap into. [File photo: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Mental health support for pilots remains challenging due to stigma and difficulties in accessing confidential counsel.
LGBTQ+ individuals, including pilots, face amplified mental health struggles due to societal non-acceptance, leading to a significant portion experiencing mental health concerns.
Various dedicated resources and support organizations exist for pilots dealing with mental health issues, with specific provisions for the LGBTQ+ community, such as the National Gay Pilots Association, ALPA's LGBTQIA committee, The Trevor Project, and PFLAG.

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Mental health for pilots remains touch-and-go. As we’ve investigated in prior FLYING special features, securing timely and confidential counsel regarding any issues you may face can be a challenge as we work to combat preconceived notions about what it means to live with depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.

For people who struggle with their own preconceived notions of society’s norms, such as those in the LGBTQ+ community, acceptance of identity is the primary problem, and can amplify any mental health challenges. Society’s rules, by definition, still can be non-accepting. So, it’s not a surprise that the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that a significant portion of the LBGTQ+ community struggles with mental health concerns.