Why pilots hide mental health struggles, avoid therapy

At a time when the world discusses the flydubai hijacking attempt by an Omani pilot and the Indian co-pilot Smit Machchar thwarting it heroically, two bills passed by the US Senate a few days ago are also getting quite a bit of attention. On September 24, the US Senate passed the 'John A Houser Mental Health in Aviation Act' and the 'Aviation Medication Transparency Act.'

According to Reuters, the bills aim to remove a common fear of pilots, which is found worldwide - fear of seeking therapy for mental health. Apparently, commercial airline pilots across the world conceal their mental health issues, fearing that they would be grounded, have their licence revoked or have their careers ended in their medical reviews if they go for therapy. 

In 2025, dozens of pilots told Reuters that if they disclose even minor, treatable issues, they face the risk of losing their job. Many pilots said that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US penalises honesty about mental struggles with tough and long reviews, grounding without pay, distrust and stigma. Apparently, even conversations around fatigue, anxiety or depression are discouraged, and people who speak about it are considered a 'liability.' 

Named after a 19-year-old
One of the bills is named 'John A Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act,' after a 19-year-old aviation student who died by suicide in 2021. As per reports, Hauser suffered from his mental health issues in silence as he was scared that seeking therapy would result in him losing his licence and quash his dream of being a commercial pilot. His parents found the reason for his death much later through his letters, and went on to be some of the prominent advocates of this legislation.

What the new bills offer
The new bills encourage seeking therapy, taking approved medicines and counselling, guidance, recruiting trained Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) like psychiatric specialists and public information campaigns to reduce stigma. The legislation has to get final approval from the US House of Representatives before becoming law. Here's how they make handling the mental health struggle easier for pilots:

a) Unlike in the past, a pilot will not have to be grounded for months or years for going to therapists. The visit won't result in them losing their licence.
b) The FAA will get up to $15 million yearly to hire more medical experts. This means extra, timely support for pilots.
c) The legislation also benefits air traffic controllers and pilot trainees, who also work under extreme stress, making the overall system better equipped to handle mental health issues.