Airplane pilot mental health and suicidal thoughts

Mental HealthInsomnia
Written By Clear Skies Ahead

Airplane pilot mental health and suicidal thoughts: a cross-sectional descriptive study via anonymous web-based survey

Wu, A. C., Donnelly-McLay, D., Weisskopf, M. G., McNeely, E., Betancourt, T. S., & Allen, J. G. (2016). Airplane Pilot Mental Health and Suicidal Thoughts: A cross-sectional descriptive study via anonymous web-based survey. Environmental Health, 15(1).


The key findings are that 12.6% of surveyed airline pilots met the threshold for depression based on the PHQ-9, and 4.1% reported having suicidal thoughts in the preceding two weeks. The study also identified significant associations between depressive symptoms and higher use of sleep-aid medications, as well as experiences of sexual or verbal harassment. The authors highlight that many pilots may be managing depressive symptoms without seeking treatment due to concerns about career repercussions, and they recommend increased organizational support for preventative mental health care in aviation.

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