Myth: I will lose my FAA medical if I seek help for any mental health situation.
Truth: The FAA will be concerned if you are clinically diagnosed with a psychiatric condition (depressive disorders, psychosis, personality disorders, anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder) or a substance abuse disorder.
Myth: If I go to the ERAU counseling center for a mental health situation, I will be grounded from flight training and/or lose my FAA medical.
Truth: The mental health professionals at the counseling center do not diagnose normal reactions to stressful situations and do not report student information to the flight department or the FAA.
Myth: If I go to a mental health professional for a mental health situation, I must report this visit on my next FAA Medical application.
Truth: You do not need to report visits to a mental health professional on your FAA Medical application unless you are clinically diagnosed.
Myth: If I am diagnosed with a mental health condition, I will lose my FAA medical forever!
Truth: The FAA allows individuals with mental health conditions to apply for a special issuance medical certificate.
Myth: If I report my mental health condition, chances are high that I may never get my FAA medical back.
Truth: The FAA reports that 99% of deferred FAA medical applications are approved.
Myth: If I have to take medication for a mental health condition, I will not be eligible to get my FAA medical back.
Truth: The FAA may issue a special issuance medical when you have been stable with no symptoms or side effects and on the same dose of medication for six months.
Concern: The process to receive an FAA special issuance medical is long.
Truth: To mitigate the approval time, it is important to send the FAA exactly what the FAA needs to make a decision as soon as possible.
Truth: The Embry-Riddle health service department can help guide you to ensure you submit all the required documents the first time and to ensure you complete all the necessary steps to avoid delays in FAA processing.
Benefits
- Early intervention has been shown to be most effective in mitigating more serious mental health concerns.
- Attending to your mental health as part of your overall wellness and care is a preventative approach to help prepare you for the stresses in life.
- Counseling can make a pilot a safer pilot.
Notes
- On a rare occasion, a student may need to be hospitalized if there is an immediate threat to self or others, and a diagnosis may be needed to support the decision.
- Be advised: If you are seeking services from a community/private mental health professional (outside of Embry-Riddle), it is not uncommon for them to submit a diagnosis in order to receive insurance reimbursement. A provider can always be contacted prior to the first appointment, and you can inquire if they will be billing your insurance.