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The Thorny Issue of Airline Pilots and Mental Illness
Episode 206

The Thorny Issue of Airline Pilots and Mental Illness

Dr. Helen Ouyang of The New York Times Magazine on treatment, disclosure, and safety.

Depresh Mode with John Moe · john moe, dr. helen ouyang

April 7, 202537m 41sExplicit

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Show Notes

Statistics say that 23% of Americans are currently living with some form of mental illness. For most people, that calls for reaching out for help and receiving treatment and advice on management. But if you’re an FAA-approved airline pilot, disclosing that you have something like a depressive disorder or an anxiety problem can mean a temporary pause or permanent end to your entire career. Of course, having a mental illness, not disclosing or getting treatment, and flying anyway presents a variety of problems as well. Dr. Helen Ouyang wrote about this in a recent New York Times Magazine article and joins us to unpack it all.

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