Strategies To Enhance Organizational Mental Wellness

If we want to see change in our industry, we must initiate it. We must make changes that are within our control to move the needle.

Mental health and wellness are now gaining visibility, particularly within the aviation industry. While lingering stigmas and barriers remain, it is essential that we work collaboratively to eliminate these obstacles by implementing changes within our scope of influence.

We must show at an organizational level that our employees’ mental wellness matters. Not only is taking care of our people the right thing to do, but it is also the safe thing to do. When aviation organizations collectively prioritize mental wellness, we can cultivate change for our entire industry, and this is powerful!

Why It Matters

Stress is a common part of daily life that affects everyone. When not managed effectively, it can have adverse safety effects and result in serious consequences. Typical signs of stress include:

• Difficulty concentrating/focusing
• Difficulty remembering things
• Lack of motivation/procrastination
• Struggling to make decisions
• Feeling less committed to your work
• Increased absences at work
• Feeling more emotional than usual (angry, sad, anxious, overwhelmed)

The 2019 research study titled “Estimating the Impact of Work Related Stress on Pilot Wellbeing and Flight Safety” examined the relationship between work-related stress, pilot wellbeing, pilot performance and flight safety. The findings indicated that safety is directly compromised if wellbeing issues are not addressed. The study also highlighted that both personal life stressors and work-related stressors can influence performance and, by implication, flight safety.

Although this study specifically focused on pilots, the findings are applicable to all of us. Stress and mental wellness influence our performance.

Access to essential resources is critical, especially those offering guidance and resilience-building. Employees also benefit from skill-building opportunities for healthy coping strategies and effective emotional regulation. Such support helps ensure that stress does not adversely impact mental wellness, ultimately promoting optimal performance and safety.

Implementing the following strategies initiates the change process, promotes employee mental wellness and enhances overall safety.

Resiliency Training

Implement resiliency training to educate employees on mental health awareness, recognizing and understanding stress and developing effective coping strategies. The training should equip your team with practical tools to support their mental wellness and help them navigate to a healthier heading.

Since ISBAO has incorporated mental health awareness into its audit criteria, ensure that the training goes beyond a mere compliance measure. The consequences are substantial; therefore, it is essential that any training is conducted by experienced professionals who have a thorough understanding of your industry and your specific realities.

Wellness Programs

Foster a safety culture by encouraging employees to identify signs of stress in themselves and colleagues, and to seek support when necessary. Ensure access to support through Individual Support Services (ISS) provided by credentialed practitioners.

A note on the dangers of peer programs:

Removing a credentialed specialist from a mental wellness support resource is comparable to removing a licensed pilot from the flight deck. You would not trust a pilot with a 10-hour training course to be your second in command. Why would you trust someone at an equivalent level of training with your mental wellness?

Peer support networks are not equipped to identify, triage and appropriately refer an individual with pre-existing neurosis. Similarly, peer groups are not fortified to handle an acute reaction professionally and ethically, in real time. Preventing acts of self-harm, mitigating dangerous and unsafe behavior and meeting reporting/warning criteria are much too important to dismiss.

Work-Life Balance

Prioritize supporting your team’s mental wellness and work-life balance by demonstrating this commitment through your actions. Lead by example and show that this is valued in your organization.

Invest in your team by facilitating opportunities for team bonding outside of the workplace. Activities such as team outings can strengthen cohesion, enhance communication, boost morale and reduce stress. This year, our EOC team enjoyed a golf outing together, and in October 2024, Fireside hosted an Office Olympics event. The latter was an enjoyable and engaging experience, featuring various quick, fun games that utilized readily available office supplies.

Creating positive team experiences does not need to be complicated or costly; even simple initiatives can have a meaningful impact.

Cultivating Change

We all have the responsibility to cultivate the change that is so needed in our industry. We must make changes that are within our control to move the needle for mental health and wellness in aviation.

To implement these strategies, gain access to credentialed resources or just explore options, please contact us at healthy@firesideteam.com.