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Airline pilots anonymously report suicidal thoughts, study finds

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Hundreds of pilots who are currently flying commercial planes may be clinically depressed, according to research published in the journal Environmental Health on Wednesday. Worse still, many pilots with symptoms of depression may not seek treatment due to fears of negative career consequences, such as being grounded, said researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (www.cnn.com) さらに...

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joelwiley
joel wiley 12
I think the incidence of depression in the general population is under reported and the apparent near doubling of it in pilots is somewhat misleading.
12% of the respondents of the anonymous survey "met the criteria for likely depression" and "By comparison, 7% of people in the United States experienced depression in the past year"
That is an apples-to-oranges comparison. One question would be the percentage meeting the criteria if the survey was not anonymous. Surveyed pilots indicated tendencies while the general population figure was clinical diagnoses. It is an issue in aviation and other professions but not as severe as the news article would lead you to infer.

7% depression rate in the US? I think is was probably quite a bit higher on Nov 10, 2016.
paultrubits
I am a pharmacist by trade. They tell us that as many as 17% of the population suffer from depression. Some of them have professions that if they decide to take some drastic action, it could cause harm to many innocent souls. We need to have a culture that is capable of helping individuals who are struggling through life. Treatment is effective in many cases. Living in a world where we are all happy with the quality of our life is preferable to feeling that life is hopeless.
akayemm
Pleasure to notice another non aviator like me venturing on this Aviators' portal.
Wishing u
Happy n safe "flying" here.
Regards

[This poster has been suspended.]

akayemm
ThanX my friend Wilbur Sanchez for the kind words encapsulating a world of wisdom.
Atleast someone understands the meaning and purpose of " brain storming " !
Regards
joelwiley
How many medical conditions does the FAA recognize that when treated do not prohibit a pilot from flying? Aside from the social stigma attached with depression, how different is it?
carlsonj
The FAA doesn't publish much that's easily read on the topic, but the AOPA has a great web site that spells this all out. Here's the top level link:

https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources/health-conditions

and the section on mental health.

https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources/health-conditions/mental-health/special-issuance-certification-for-depression-with-antidepressant-usage

Note the rather substantial restrictions listed -- one of four drugs, nothing else, no combinations, and certain specific symptoms or history are permanently disqualifying. It's great that they're allowing "something," I guess.
paultrubits
I get it that the FAA wants to be extremely conservative with Pilots who are taking prescription medications. It is time that a comprehensive review of all medications and whether the current restrictions are warranted. Preacher got caught up in this mess because his was an insulin dependent diabetic. Our knowledge of medications and how they effect performance is far superior to what was available just a few years ago. The frustration with the FAA(and many other government agencies) is their inability or unwillingness to stay current.
carlsonj
My point is that, at a bottom line, it's much safer for everyone if pilots seek medical treatment when needed. Any system that actively discourages that is a hindrance to safety, not a benefit.
akayemm
Dear friend paul trubits , I fully agree and echo your sentiments about the need for staying current.
It has always been cardinal and hence critical to keep up with the times , subject to resources in terms of costs/ finances and the information systems.
US and in turn FAA have no dearth on both counts.
Clearly the need of the hour may be the will to do so.
Also , let us not forget that what FAA does sets examples for others to emulate for which FAA in particular and Americans in general can be proud of.
My half cent.
joelwiley
Thanks for the links.
WALLACE24
Nov 11 could have been a great day!
joelwiley
Some might consider replying "except for the Russkies" ;-)
WALLACE24
Those mass suicides would have truely excited Putin though. But alas, no migration to Canada and no suicides.

[This poster has been suspended.]

joelwiley
Perdóname, pero el número nueve es positivo no negativo
gracias
akayemm
Dear friend Wilbur Sanchez , here is my half cent about down-voting.
Critical analysis will show that many a down-votes are given not on merit BUT because the 'voter' can do so ! A strange mind set that exists in every social group.
And FA community can be no exception.
Irony is that detailed Id, meaning credentials, of the 'voter' is not known.
I often wonder how and why do people criticise in a condemning manner.
Most of the incidents / accidents are discussed during investigation stages implying that ALL opinions and views are based on half truths and assumptions. So where is room of chest thumping or 'down sizing' any one ?
Yet many 'experts' choose to down grade some other credible persons.
I sincerely hope that your views and endeavour will bear fruits to instill some better sense among such impulsive down-voters.
Regards
WeatherWise
"Wilbur Sanchez" AKA Peter Hartmann Esq., a banned participant in these forums, blames everyone for the "down voting" except HIMSELF, the person that brought it on in the first place with his arrogance and insulting remarks. Odds are he will continue to be down voted until he finally gets the message and "flies away".
joelwiley
...or changes his ways.
wingbolt
wingbolt 1
Mr Mittal,

You might want to take s stroll down this memory lane and see if you want to rephrase your comment.

Airplane_Tires_Don_t_Explode_on_Landing_Because_They_Are_Pumped
akayemm
To my ALL friends ,
My sincere apologies for not recognising "Wilbur Sanchez" AKA Peter Hartmann Esq..
Regards
wingbolt
wingbolt 1
Glad to bring you back from the Dark Side!
joelwiley
I am not down-voting your comment even though I very well can.
Going from the general to the specific, my critical analysis of my own voting finds little evidence of down-voting because I can. My voting is based on the content of the particular post on which I am voting. Case in point is the post to which you responded and I in turn am responding to you.
1. Either inadvertent or deliberate WS got the post vote direction incorrect.
2. His assertion that there exists a group "LEGIT interest in aviation-related subjects".
LEGIT is a term he has repeatedly used under this ID and a previous one. The set population appears to vary but has usually excluded persons lacking a pilot certificate. I question his authority to define legitimacy in this forum.
3. In his assertion regarding down-voting of his posts that can easily be characterized as diatribes " this childish interference in yours and other posts has gone far enough", I take offense with a) the characterization 'childish' b) 'interference' (that my opinion is in some way interfering with him or his opinion), and c) 'this has gone on long enough' as though he is any sort of arbiter of the discourse.
4. You may consider this bordering on 'not on merit' but I consider his statement "I appreciate your extraordinary research talents" as sarcasm not just from this post but the particular pattern of the phraseology as used in a fairly large number of other posts.

Please feel free to PM me over on the discussion side if you want to go into the reason his prior ID was suspended. I believe it directly relates to comments he made to you, but would rather not discuss it in the public forum.
akayemm
joel wiley thanX to U too my friend.
In my country, India, there is and age old expression in Sanskrit , " Tamso maa jyotirgmaya " meaning Lead me from darkness to light !
I guess I need not say or write more .
Regards
carlsonj
This doesn't surprise me a bit. The way the medical examination system is set up, it just encourages this situation. It's a logical result of illogical rules.

Consider this: you've spent years training in low (near zero) wage jobs in order to gain the experience needed for a coveted spot in the industry. And the rules say that all mental health treatment and associated medications are immediately disqualifying, and you'll never find another job in the one field you love if you disclose having any sort of problem. What exactly do you think people will be forced to do?

I'm not at all saying that people with problems should be given "a pass." I'm dead sure that's how the usual crowd here will read my comment. Instead, I'm saying that the rules need to take *people* into account. There has to be a benefit for seeking treatment. The rules need to take into consideration that having pilots under appropriate medical care is a much, much safer place to be, than living with some non-trivial segment of the population experiencing untreated problems.

But the rules aren't written or enforced that way. Instead, they're a one-size-fits-all fantasy, so we get the law of unintended consequences instead.
Flightdog
The pilots are probably happy enough on takeoff and climb and even through cruise. It is the thought of having to descend and rejoin the rest of the world that is depressing.
akayemm
Ha Ha
What a finding !
And how reassuring for the unsuspecting non aviators on the a/c being flown by such 'afflicted' aviators.
Is the finding laudatory or mind boggling ( or wobbling ) ?
I wonder !
ah6oy
The brain is a creature of its own. Going from sea level to 6,000-8,000' cabin pressures is probably like an instant on drug. Their brains get left with the symptoms and wonder due to sudden approaches to hypoxic probably. Maybe if their brains had more than monitoring, well hopefully monitoring autopilots and other readings like manual control at altitude, then they would feel like they have a purpose in life.

[This poster has been suspended.]

joelwiley
So, when you are flying, you are thinking homicidal thoughts about being down-voted on a FA Squawk? It seems there are more in the group 'pathetic' than down-voters.
jbermo
jbermo 1
I recall an incident back in the 70's where TWA was screening chosen pilot applicants with all sorts of tests inclusive of an intense physical with a psychological evaluation. One successful candidate however, later committed suicide during training, after failing his initial simulator check ride.

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