# Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

This bill is designed to make it easier for pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health treatment without fear of losing their jobs or licenses. Right now, many aviation professionals avoid getting help for depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues because they worry that disclosing a diagnosis could trigger a lengthy investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and potentially ground them from work. This bill aims to change that by updating the rules and making the process less intimidating.

The FAA will have two years to revise its medical certification regulations to encourage people in aviation to seek help and be open about mental health conditions. The bill also requires the FAA to review and approve additional medications that can safely treat mental health issues in pilots and air traffic controllers, since some commonly prescribed medications are currently prohibited. The FAA will conduct annual reviews to improve the "special issuance" process—the pathway that allows someone with a mental health diagnosis to still get medical clearance to fly or work as an air traffic controller. This includes giving aviation medical examiners better training in mental health so they can make more informed decisions.

To make this work, the bill provides $13.7 million per year for four years to hire more aviation medical examiners, including psychiatrists, to handle the increased workload and clear the current backlog of cases waiting for review. Additionally, $1.5 million per year will fund a public awareness campaign to reduce the stigma around mental health treatment in the aviation industry, helping professionals understand that seeking help won't automatically end their careers. The goal is straightforward: get more people the mental health support they need while maintaining safety standards in aviation.

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

Casten, Sean

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review and update its regulations and policies on mental&nbsp;health for pilots and air traffic controllers.The FAA must update regulations and take any other actions necessary to implement the recommendations of (1) the Aviation Workforce Mental Health Task Group, and (2) the&nbsp;Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee (the ARC).The FAA must also annually review and update, as appropriate, the applicable regulations and policies on&nbsp;mental health-related special issuance for pilots and air traffic controllers. As background, an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate is a discretionary document from the FAA which allows an airman with a disqualifying medical condition to fly under a restricted medical certificate.Among other things, the review and update must<ul><li>reclassify and approve additional medications that may be safely prescribed to airmen to treat mental health conditions,</li><li>delegate additional authority to aviation medical examiners (AMEs) consistent with the ARC recommendations, and</li><li>improve the special issuance process for pilots and air traffic controllers.</li></ul>&nbsp;The bill authorizes the FAA to take actions to recruit and train additional AMEs.The bill also authorizes an FAA public information campaign or education efforts to (1) destigmatize individuals in (or interested in joining) the aviation industry who seek mental health care, (2) broaden awareness of available supportive services, and (3) establish trust with pilots and air traffic controllers.