Mental health implications for aviators from COVID-19

Objective

The authors present aeromedical implications from COVID-19 disruptions on the civil aviation sector, consider mental health impacts on pilots, and discuss possible helpful responses to support pilot mental health.

Methods

A multiple database review investigated articles from January 2002 to May 2021 on severe commercial aviation disruptions impacting pilot mental health and on pilot mental health coping or treatment. Fifteen papers were identified.

Results

During the COVID-19 pandemic, airline flights were severely reduced. By January 2021, airlines shed thousands of jobs and 24 airlines no longer existed. General population surveys found 13% of individuals had “serious distress” from the pandemic. In two aviation focused surveys, 40–66% of pilots agreed or strongly agreed that their mental health worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to past Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patients, more COVID-19 patients have mental health symptoms in the acute phase of illness; while about 10% of COVID-19 patients appear to have chronic or “long haul” symptoms. Mental Health treatment and coping strategies found helpful to pilots are discussed.

Conclusions

Pilots remain at risk for mental health symptoms and illness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who develop severe distress or mental illness from the effects of the pandemic (or COVID-19 infection), early treatment with psychotherapy and/or approved medications may be warranted. This may decrease the likelihood of persistent physical or cognitive or mental health symptoms that would delay a return to flying status.