The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has launched a month-long initiative to highlight pilot mental health, bringing together educational content, expert guidance, and advocacy updates throughout May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.
The initiative, sponsored by Jeppesen ForeFlight, is designed to address common concerns among pilots, including the fear of losing their medical certificate, the stigma surrounding mental health in aviation, and a lack of clear, actionable information for pilots, according to AOPA officials.
“Mental health remains one of the biggest challenges facing pilots and the aviation industry today,” said AOPA Acting Co-President Katie Pribyl. “AOPA has been working on this issue for years. Our advocacy efforts with Congress and the FAA have led to many of the improvements we’ve seen so far, but we still have a long way to go. During this month, we want to highlight what resources are available and that getting help doesn’t always have to mean giving up flying.”
Since May 1, AOPA has released several new resources and articles, including four new videos in the Expert Insights series focused on mental performance.
Throughout May, AOPA will also:
- Interview Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup about ongoing efforts to streamline medical certification and reduce the stigma around mental health.
- Dedicate its monthly “What’s Up?” webinar on May 21 to mental health by interviewing Reini Thijssen, a counselor who specializes in supporting pilots.
- Expand mental health educational opportunities for CFIs to give them tools to support their students.
All resources released throughout May will be included in AOPA’s Mental Health Resource Center.
For more information: AOPA.org
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