Mental health conditions are common across the general population, and aviation professionals are no exception. Having a mental health condition is not necessarily an exclusion from aviation duties; however, non-declaration can pose significant issues.
To illustrate how common mental health conditions are, a comprehensive study by the Mental Health Foundation demonstrated that one in six (17%) people over the age of 16 had a common mental health problem in the week before being interviewed.
Nearly half (43.4%) of adults think that they have had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life (35.2% of men and 51.2% of women). A fifth of men (19.5%) and a third of women (33.7%) have had diagnoses confirmed by professionals.
A third of people (36.2%) who self-identified as having a mental health problem in surveys have never been diagnosed by a professional.
In 2014, 19.7% of people in the UK aged 16 and older showed symptoms of anxiety or depression. (Ref: Mental Health Foundation 2016)
Aircrew prevalences often appear reduced. This raises questions: is this a true reflection of effective screening during training and selection, or is it partially a consequence of non-declaration?
Declaration is Key: Openness about mental health is crucial for accurate assessment and ensuring safety.
Trust is Crucial: A trusting environment between aviation professionals, AMEs, and regulatory bodies is vital for a safe flying environment.
Mental health assessments are vital for pilots, air traffic control staff, and cabin crew for several key reasons:
Mental well-being directly impacts the ability to perform critical tasks and make sound decisions. Unaddressed issues can impair cognitive functions essential for safety.
Aviation roles involve high stress and irregular schedules. Assessments help manage stressors, develop coping strategies, and mitigate burnout risk.
Early detection of conditions like anxiety, depression, or substance abuse allows for treatment, minimising impact on job performance.
Assessments evaluate overall fitness, ensuring individuals are mentally suitable to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Authorities like ICAO require periodic medical exams including mental health assessments, maintaining industry safety standards.
Assessments facilitate early intervention and access to support, improving outcomes and enabling safe return to roles.
Understanding when a specialist psychiatric review may be necessary for any aviation professional.
A psychiatric assessment is not a standard part of every medical. However, if your AME requires additional clarification on any aspect of your current or past mental health for submission to the regulatory authority, they may request one.
It is then your responsibility to arrange this specialist assessment, which is where we can help.
Sometimes the assessment is relatively straightforward – for example, evaluating the impact of past treatment or counselling and any current effects on licensing.
Other times, it may focus more on demonstrating resilience and effective coping strategies against external stresses.
More complex situations, like significant past mental illness, trauma, or suspected conditions, will require a more detailed assessment and formal report for your AME and potentially the licensing authority.
Often, this is a one-off assessment for initial licensing or return to work after sickness. Occasionally, the regulatory authority may require ongoing periodic mental health assessment and monitoring, which we can also provide.
Several aviation incidents have underscored the critical need for robust mental health screening, support, and ongoing monitoring for all crew members.
The co-pilot, with a history of concealed depression, deliberately crashed the aircraft. This highlighted issues of non-disclosure and mental health history.
The first officer, suffering from mental health issues, intentionally caused the crash, emphasising the need for psychological screening.
Investigation suggested intentional crash by the captain, who reportedly had financial/personal problems, pointing to stress factors.
A captain's mental health episode mid-flight showcased the need for protocols to identify and address acute mental health crises.
A crash landing linked to compromised decision-making under psychological stress, emphasising stress management and mental well-being.
These incidents underline the critical need for robust mental health screening, support systems, and ongoing monitoring of crew members' well-being within the aviation industry to ensure the safety of passengers and crew alike.
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on this site, and to understand where visitors come from. No data is used for marketing or shared with third parties. Full details about privacy and UK GDPR regulations can be seen in our Privacy Notice on www.aviationmentalhealth.co.uk/#fees-legals