I guess I just have the tough love attitude because I don’t necessarily believe this guy has depression. Possibly sadness but I doubt clinical depression. I also wonder if he didn’t already have a substance abuse problem and is using depression as an excuse. Even if depression, doesn’t make up for the way he handled it. Tap out, take time from work and if that doesn’t work, go through the HIMS / SI process.
I’ll you an extreme example on dealing with stress. I just started reading a book that was recommended on POA recently called “War for the Hell of it.” Excellent book about an F-4 driver in Vietnam. Anyway, this is a guy who’s going through serious stress on a daily basis. Losing friends left and right and dealing with his own mortality does create sadness. Yet, he has the mental fortitude to continue to do his job without tapping out or seeking help from drugs. In fact, he thrives on it. Did he drink? Sure he did, everyone drank but they never let it affect work. He’s the norm.
Whether it’s an airline pilot dealing with a friends loss or a combat pilot dealing with several friends lost, you deal with it and move on. If you can’t deal with, then don’t put other people’s lives in danger. Either get help or seek employment where lives aren’t in your hands.
Your comment shows a significant misunderstanding of both mental health and substance use. Let’s break it down:
Alcohol, for instance, is known to be toxic. It dehydrates your skin, impairs your liver’s ability to detoxify your body, and over time, it accelerates the aging process. On top of that, alcohol makes you incoherent and impacts your cognitive function, slows your reflexes, and impairs your judgment. It’s not just a harmless way to unwind; it’s a substance that can deeply affect your mental and physical health.
Now, consider nicotine, which is essentially a mood stabilizer. People use it to manage stress and anxiety, yet it’s widely accepted despite its harmful effects. Vaping and cigarettes are everywhere, but they’re often ignored when it comes to discussions about mental health.
Meanwhile, SSRIs medications for those dealing with the same stressors as above are demonized. The FAA will ground pilots who might be on a low dose of an SSRI, yet they don’t take similar action against those who use alcohol and nicotine products.
So, if we’re talking about dealing with stress and mental health, let’s be consistent. The impact of unregulated substances like alcohol and nicotine is far more destructive than properly prescribed and monitored antidepressants. It’s 2024 and there are significantly BETTER options than alcohol and nicotine. The smarter pilots that actually give a **** are getting screwed. “Everyone drank” is the PROBLEM.
People face real stressors in life, and they deserve more than oversimplified judgments and outdated attitudes.