Changing minds
Stigma around mental health is fading
There was a stigma attached to mental health that pilots believed would dismiss them from being medically approved to fly. That stigma and attitude are changing. In recent years, the agency has invested resources to eliminate the stigma around mental health so pilots will seek treatment. This includes: increased mental health training for aviation medical examiners; hired additional mental health professionals to expand in-house expertise and to decrease wait times; completed clinical research and amended policy to decrease the frequency of cognitive testing in pilots using antidepressant medications; increased outreach to pilot groups to educate them on the resources available.
While much of the attention has been focused on commercial pilots, GA pilots should self-check themselves and help the aviation community. We should strive to create a culture of openness and awareness by encouraging people to talk about mental health. If you have questions about past mental health issues or are facing challenges, the AOPA Pilot Information Center can help. AOPA has experienced pilots and medical professionals on staff who can address your concerns.
The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.
The FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine recently published a list of the common health issues disclosed by pilots by age. Mental health conditions—including anxiety, depression, and ADHD—rank high among younger pilots.
As of the time of publication, Congress is nearing passage of the Mental Health in Aviation Act, which would implement 24 recommendations from a 2024 mental health rulemaking committee in which AOPA participated, aimed at addressing barriers that prevent pilots and air traffic controllers from disclosing and seeking care for mental health issues.
The FAA has also faced other challenges in clearing the backlog of cases, including staffing. A government funding bill passed in February included $3 million to hire additional staff and modernize information management systems.
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