I don’t have much of an interesting story. Just some thoughts I’ve had as I’ve progressed through training and watching the industry from afar. — I am a private pilot starting my instrument who has dealt with my fair share of mental health struggles through my life (especially as I was younger). I feel fortunate that I never reached a point where I or anyone around me felt so concerned that I need to be taken to receive mental health, and thus have never been diagnosed with any mental health diseases. Knowing my career as an aviator was more or less on the line kept me from seeing a therapist in the worst of my depression/anxiety and I’m again thankful for my family and friends who were there to support me as I went through everything.
Do I wish I could have sought help? Hell yea I do.
That’s why I have become so passionate about expanding resources for mental health for aviators. The FAA is clearly behind the times in terms of mental health, with other nations able to work out solutions to help people get in/stay in the air. There are thousands (if not more) people out there who are suffering through much worse conditions than I ever experienced who aren’t going to be able to essentially ‘fake it’ through self-recovery as I have been able to and how on earth is that fair?
It’s clear that the FAA (like much of the US Government) is stuck living decades in the past and fail to meet the needs of aviators in the real world. That’s why I’m so glad to see project open skies ‘taking flight’ – this is such an important topic and issue and I truly hope that the FAA takes notes and makes changes. It’s about damn time.
What is Your Title?
Pilot
What is Your Favorite Quote?
“I’m alive, and I don’t need a witness to know that I survived”
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