Coping with Tragedy in the Aviation Community
Lorraine Woiak
When tragedy strikes in the aviation community, it impacts us all. With multiple incidents occurring within the last few months, the concern of mental health in the aviation community has become a greater public issue than ever before. How we deal with grief in the aftermath of tragedy is different for everyone. No matter how we are impacted, it is important to recognize when we need help and to know the resources available to us.
Recognizing Symptoms
It is okay to not be okay. Pretending we are not upset or grieving can cause negative emotions to bubble up and manifest in unhealthy ways. The first step to finding peace and getting back to ourselves is to recognize our emotions. Taking the time to analyze our situations allows us to process and figure out what we need to do for ourselves. We all have different levels of tolerance and different factors that impact how we experience grief. While some individuals may be able to compartmentalize and work through mild levels of grief, others (especially those closely connected to tragedy) will have severe symptoms that will interfere with their work. When it comes to those who are in positions that greatly impact the lives of others, like pilots and air traffic controllers, it is also a matter of passenger and crew safety. If you are struggling with severe symptoms that come with grief, it can interfere with your judgement or slow your reaction time in an emergency.
There are many different symptoms that can impede on your ability to function at your best and be detrimental to both physical and mental health. Fatigue that comes with a lack of or poor quality sleep is perhaps one of the most dangerous symptoms of stress in pilots and ATC. As every pilot knows, there has been a connection to fatigue in some of the most devastating accidents in aviation history. Untreated, prolonged stress can also contribute to health problems like high blood pressure or heart disease which may put your career at risk. If you are dealing with symptoms like these, it is important to seek help - whether professionally or personally - and address your feelings head on. It is also important that you consider self-grounding if you do not feel you can complete your duties safely.
Suicidal or homicidal thoughts are emergencies and should be treated as such. If you are experiencing either of these, please contact the Crisis Hotline through call or text at 988. Your life matters.
Self-Help
It is essential to take care of yourself whether you are grieving or supporting others. There are many different coping techniques like breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation which can be used anytime. Tools like these can be effective for managing grief as well as everyday stress. Learning what relaxation techniques work for you is important in both managing and preventing mental health concerns. Monitor your eating habits and sleep. These are two factors that are greatly impacted by stress so it is important to note any changes that may negatively impact your health. Dedicate a few minutes each day to check-in with yourself and ask yourself what you need.
Community and Peer Support
Community support programs offer essential non-medical services for those dealing with mental health challenges. These programs can be offered through companies, unions, or peer organized groups. Some programs are specialized in working with specific populations like spouses, families, or specific job positions. One of the largest benefits of programs like these is that they are often able to offer anonymous services. This is especially important in a field where many fear consequences for seeking the help they need. Additionally, peer support is an effective way to address grief as individuals can relate to each other and find support in shared experiences. In some cases, a strong peer support system can be more effective than individual therapy. For all of these reasons, peer and community support programs are seen as a first step in handling group crises after a tragedy.
Professional Support
Seeking professional support can be a difficult but life saving step. For those that need a higher level of support than what community programs can offer, individual therapy can help with processing emotions and managing symptoms. Therapists can help develop a personalized plan to manage stress and overcome grief. In cases of severe or prolonged depression, anxiety, or PTSD, medication may be recommended. It is important to note that there are restrictions to what medications can be taken while flying and that all visits with mental health providers are reportable to the FAA. Unfortunately, this often discourages aviation workers from seeking professional help. It is a deeply personal and complex decision to make. Despite these hurdles, it is an important option to consider if you find self-help and peer support programs unable to help ease severe mental health symptoms.
Moving Forward
Just as we all experience grief differently, our timelines for healing will differ. Those who are closer to the tragedy will likely need more time to heal than others. The aviation community being as small and connected as it is means community is all the more important. When there is an accident, there is a high chance you know someone that was directly impacted by it. Check-in on your flight crew and coworkers.
If you are in need of services please check out our Help and Services tab, look at your company’s website for support they offer, or see the job specific resources listed below.
Air Traffic Controllers and Safety Workers:
https://www.natca.org/critical-incident-stress-management-cism/
Commercial Pilots:
https://www.alpa.org/news-and-events/air-line-pilot-magazine/health-watch-coping-with-stress
Flight Attendants:
https://www.afacwa.org/flight_attendants_coping
General Aviation:
https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-resources/health-conditions/mental-health