Myth: We don’t need a PDAP since we already have an EAP.
At Lift.Affect we believe that EAPs offer excellent services for many employee groups throughout the airline industry. In fact, many Lift.Affect MHPs are service providers for several EAPs throughout the country. Unfortunately, there are several factors that contribute to EAPs being problematic for commercial pilots.  As previously mentioned, issues such as a lack of experience working with professional pilots, inexperience with handling FAA documentation requirements for pilots that are receiving treatment, overall inaccessibility and the inability to work remotely, the issues regarding mental health diagnosis for ensure reimbursement, and a host of other issues make EAPs less desirable for professional pilots with mental health concerns.

Myth: Pilots utilize EAPs.
The most successful EAPs have a utilization rate of around 5% of total non-pilot employees.  Among the organizations we assist the average utilization rate among their pilot group is less than 1%. Some may attribute this low percentage to the belief that professional pilots experience less emotional health issues than the rest of the population.  This perception is false.  A 2017 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that 12.6% of airline pilots surveyed that are currently flying are managing clinical level of depressive symptoms, and 4.1% of those pilots report having active suicidal thoughts. These numbers, when matched with the low number of pilots that report having psychological issues on their FAA medical applications, indicate that professional pilots are seeking treatment on their own from either qualified or unqualified practitioners, are ignorantly treating themselves (often through drugs and alcohol), or not seeking help at all.  The reality is that pilots are largely underground with their mental health issues and professional pilots do not utilize the EAP. We encourage all organizations we assist to research the utilization rate of their EAP by their pilots.

Myth: The reason pilots don’t use the EAP is because they don’t know it exists.
We have even seen several companies unsuccessfully attempt to increase the utilization of their EAP by their pilots through aggressive and focused promotional initiatives. Unfortunately many of the pilots we assist at Lift.Affect have had unfavorable experiences with their company EAP.  From experiencing difficulty with finding an EAP provider in their area, to receiving an inaccurate and damaging diagnosis, to feeling as though the MHP didn’t understand the dynamics of their profession, there are many obstacles pilots consistently report experiencing when utilizing their EAP.  News of negative or damaging experiences travels quickly throughout the pilot community.

Having an independent, third party, pilot-dedicated assistance program (PDAP) offers the safest, most comprehensive and effective path for pilots to receive the help they need while maintaining their ability to continue to fly.