An Aviator Centered Approach to Mental Health: A Preliminary Look at Stressors, Barriers to Care, and Untreated Aviator Mental Health

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

The purposeful crash of Germanwings 9525 in March 2015 provided a wake-up call to the aviation community on the ramifications of untreated mental health in commercial aviation. While the airline industry and governmental regulating bodies reacted quickly with peer-support networks and attempts to de-stigmatize seeking assistance, few actions or studies have focused on mental health from an Aviators perspective. This presentation explores the possible stressors impacting aviator mental health among three distinct aviator professional categories: Commercial Aviators, Military Aviators, and Aviators in Civilian Training Programs. After providing an overview of stressors, the discussion transitions into what is known about the psychological barriers to treatment among these differing groups. Finally, the presentation explores the risks to individual and operational safety generated by aviators conducting flight operations with untreated mental health symptoms. Ultimately this session provides attendees with an understanding of what is currently known in these areas of Aviator centered mental health, and what facets need further quantitative and qualitative research.

Author

• Raus, Aric J Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Mental Health; Barriers to Care; Psychological Barriers; Suicide; Mental-Illness; Stigma
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Human Factors Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Psychology