Mental Health Resources
At OBAP, we believe that caring for your mental health is just as important as maintaining your skills, your aircraft, and your logbook. Aviation and aerospace can be demanding, high-pressure environments, especially for Black professionals who may be navigating additional stressors related to bias, isolation, and representation.
This page is a growing hub for resources, stories, and tools to support the emotional well-being of our members, students, and partners.
In a Crisis? Call or Text 988
If you are struggling, overwhelmed, or thinking about harming yourself, please seek help immediately. This page is not a substitute for professional care or emergency services.
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
- Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, colleague, or faith leader.
- Connect with a licensed mental health professional or crisis service in your area.
You are not a burden. You are not alone. Your life and your well-being matter deeply—to OBAP, to your community, and to this industry.
OBAP in Action: Programs & Initiatives
Our work extends beyond research. OBAP is actively building programs that normalize mental health conversations and equip our community with practical tools.
The Green Bandana Project
Through initiatives like the Green Bandana Project, now part of training at the Luke Weathers Flight Academy and integrated into our youth programs, we are empowering future professionals to:
- Recognize signs of distress in themselves and others
- Respond with empathy and appropriate support
- Reduce stigma around mental health in training environments and on the flight line
Students who participate receive training on how to be a visible source of support, helping to create campuses and classrooms where it is safe to ask for help.
Research Spotlight: “A Double Taboo?”
We are proud to share an important study led by OBAP Board Vice Chair Dr. Theodore Johnson and his colleagues, titled: “A Double Taboo? An Exploratory Study of Mental Health Perceptions Amongst Black Aerospace Professionals.”
This groundbreaking research sheds light on the mental health challenges faced by Black aerospace professionals—addressing issues such as:
- Workplace culture and its impact on psychological safety
- Stigma around seeking help and talking about mental health
- Barriers to accessing culturally competent care
- How race, identity, and profession intersect in the cockpit, hangar, and office
The study also offers actionable recommendations to drive change across our industry, including strategies for leaders, training organizations, and companies who want to better support Black aerospace professionals.
For Students, Pilots, and Professionals
Whether you’re in flight training, flying the line, working in maintenance, engineering, ATC, or another role, your mental well-being matters.
Here are some guiding principles we encourage across the OBAP community:
- You are not alone. Many aerospace professionals, at every level, experience stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, or grief at some point in their careers.
- Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Speaking to a counselor, therapist, chaplain, peer support leader, or trusted mentor is a courageous step.
- Your story matters. Your lived experience, culture, and identity shape how you move through this industry. Finding spaces where you can be fully yourself is critical to staying well.
Consider connecting with a licensed mental health professional, employee assistance program (EAP), or culturally competent counselor in your local area.
For Flight Schools, Employers, and Partners
OBAP is committed to working with training providers, airlines, and aerospace organizations to:
- Develop policies and cultures that reduce stigma and fear around seeking care
- Integrate mental health education into training programs
- Create pathways for early intervention and peer-to-peer support
- Ensure that Black aerospace professionals and other underrepresented groups feel seen, heard, and supported
If your organization would like to learn more about partnering with OBAP on mental health initiatives, training, or research:
Hangar Talks Podcast
Episode: “Staying Grounded: Mental Health Essentials for the Aerospace Journey”
In this episode of Hangar Talks, mental health professionals and aviation leaders unpack what it means to stay emotionally “in trim” throughout your aerospace journey—from training and checkrides to line flying and leadership roles. Topics include:
- Managing stress and high expectations
- Navigating isolation, imposter syndrome, and performance pressure
- Building healthy coping strategies and support systems
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