I know this is an extremely talked about subject and very touchy in some circles, but I’m curious as a Canadian, has anyone actually seen or heard mentions of any reform for “mental health” related things as far as medicals go in either the US or Canada?

I recently read the article about John Hauser from UND and honestly I feel absolutely crushed about it. And I do not want to say that I understand what he was feeling in any way, however I can understand feeling that hopeless, where you may be in the position where you need to talk to someone, but in doing so you are going to risk losing something you absolutely love and have loved your whole life, when all you may need is a pick me up, or just to vent.

Imagine not having someone to ‘vent’ to at school. John Hauser was from Chicago, and was at school in North Dakota, which is a good distance away from friends, parents, etc. I’m not going to speculate on the type of social life he had at school, but assuming he didn’t feel comfortable with talking to a friend there about whatever he may have been thinking about, or things that he was struggling with, the logical and straight forward option for some students, is to go talk to a councillor at the school (which again I’m assuming the school has to help students if I’m wrong correct me).

But IMO, someone who is a pilot - student, private, or commercial should be provided with the ability to simply speak with a professional about things they feel they may need help with, and not immediately be deemed “a mental health liability” and never be able to fly again, or god forbid end up feeling so hopeless they take their own life.

An example I always use is a pilot I know had a routine visit with her family doctor (some examiners in Canada are also family doctors), she mentioned in passing that “work has been stressful lately”. Her medical was pulled. She had to jump through so many hoops to get it back, proving that the act of flying didn’t stress her out, and that she wasn’t actually stressed and was over exaggerating. It’s quite frankly disgusting that you’re unable to tell your family doctor you’re stressed because you’re over worked and fear completely losing your career because you’re labeled a mental health issue.

Is there a real way for the FAA / Transport Canada / agencies around the world to begin the prioritization of helping pilots with mental health problems should they arise? Or is it always going to have to be “everything in my life is absolutely perfect, or else”.