[April 01, 2015]. The Germanwings airline co-pilot deliberately steered his commercial jet into the French Alps killing all 150 aboard. It was discovered he had hidden his mental health problems from the airline. People often obscure mental issues from their employers, friends, and family. Leaders are particularly prone to hide them because of adverse impacts on their employment and private life.
Todd DuBose, professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology wrote that many airline pilots believe if they disclose a problem, “then I’m done.” … Meaning the end of a career they worked so hard to get. “That’s how powerful an avoidance of stigma can be, that it can be so powerful, it can override taking care of yourself and the care of other people at times.”
Irrespective of the explanatory psychology behind the propensity to hid mental issues, it is of utmost importance that senior leaders be on guard for them. Note that recognizing mental issues can be a broad area of exploration requiring considerable experience and personal skills to recognize and act correctly. For example, my unit in preparation to deploy to combat discovered an officer with a dentist phobia. The solution was time consuming and caused disruption in the unit’s training cycle.
It is a fact that disclosing a mental issue will have negative consequences in most jobs. Regardless of what is said about the “courage” that it takes to self report and the “promise” that no adverse impact to the job will occur, the truth is glossed over. Yes, it does take courage;yet a leader with mental issues can expect their career to be hurt – there are few alternatives.
Imagine a Infantry captain leading men into combat. If that officer has extreme bouts of depression, what should his superior officers do? Leaving that person in charge of 150 soldiers in combat would be unconscionable.
Mental health issues must be dealt with early and appropriately. The longer a leader is allowed to function without help, the higher the potential risk to everyone around them and to themselves