I'm going to say this because it's an industrywide problem: As pilots were really encouraged to compartmentalize stuff and not get treatment for anything we have going on emotionally or mentally because of our friends, the FAA. Now if the consequences of getting treatment for whatever was going on inside our heads was not so punitive may be there would not be so many crazy pilots floating around.
My 2 cents
going back on what Wolfala Said. Here is another description regarding mental health by the FAA.
If you really want to lay blame on someone and something for letting this happen lets go after the regulatory agencies specifically the FAA. Why? Because they create a culture where anyone with any mental health problem WILL not be allowed to fly. You may ask whats the big deal about that? The thing is when you're a professional pilot you train for years and spend tons of money. You basically dedicate your life to the profession. Some people live with mental health problems for the early part of their lives only to have them really surface as they get older. The problem is that when it's discovered in this profession you may be heavily committed in it and unable to just stop.
For example if pete age 40 is a 737 captain at major airline X he's probably making 200k a year. He has a house 2 cars a nice family. But Pete is sad, what can pete do? Well if you were in non-aviation you would go to the doctor and get checked out and get the help you need. Not in aviation... If pete went to the doctor and was diagnosed with depression he wouldn't be allowed to fly anymore. Now his 200k a year income is gone. The faa would deny his medical for years. So now what? Well Pete would have to get a job in something else while also fighting the faa to get his medical back. At age 40 with only aviation it would be near impossible to get a job making 200k again. So he would at best get a 50k entry level position since other than aviation he has no other marketable skills. It would most likely end up causing much more stress since now his house, cars, and marriage would all be in danger. I've been told those anti-depressants don't really cure you and in most cases make things worse. So now pete is on those making pills, making 75% less money, worried about his carreer, family life, professional life and mental health. If anything Pete is probably worse off now than he was before because the depression is probably still there but now he has the weight of the world on him with all those other factors lingering in his mind.
So with all that said what do you think pete would end up doing? Getting "help" or just "dealing with it" and maybe having a few drinks at the hotel bar to help him sleep better at night? I'm sure pete would love to see a professional to help him cope with his depression or whatever but the FAA creates an environment where that is not possible. This also explains the rampant alcoholism that pilots face.
Want to do something about it, pressure the government to actually care about someones mental health.
