“German Headline!” Most pilots with depression seek corporate disease

Most pilots suffering from depression disease hidden from companies and air authorities, according to a study released today (5) by German newspaper Bild. The problem came to light after the fall of the Germanwings plane, with 150 people aboard, on the last day 24, in the region of the French Alps.

The Copilot of the company, Andreas Lubitz’s, which would have deliberately brought down plane, which made the connection between Barcelona (Spain) and Dusseldorf (Germany), suffered from depression and, according to the ongoing investigation, did internet searches on suicide methods on the eve of the trip.

According to the study released by the Bild, the case of Andreas Lubitz’s is not unique among pilots, seeking to hide health problems from his superiors. The analysis, the Director of the Department of medicine at the International Civil Aviation Organization, Anthony Evans, dated November 2013, reveals the existence of serious deficits in the monitoring of mental health pilots.

According to the study, about 60 percent of riders who suffer some form of depression decide to keep flying without communicating to employers. Based on the analysis of 1,200 cases of pilots with depression, Evans’s work reveals that approximately 15% of professionals choose to treat themselves in secret with drugs that can by their own means, and only 25% declare to the employer who is getting treatment.

The study results from the observation of cases between 1997 and 2001, according to the Bild, which highlights the enormous pressure to which they are subjected pilots and the fact that a diagnosis of depression lead to his removal from the service.

German research on the Germanwings plane crash revealed that Lubitz’s did a few years ago, before receiving the pilot’s license, psychotherapeutic treatment for suicidal tendencies.

In the search to the CoPilot and parents was discovered that Andreas Lubitz’s was in treatment and that he had a medical certificate to the day of the disaster, which was not communicated to the company.

Source: Agência Brazil

Comment:

This “headline” well biased leads me to many questions:
 • And the programs of prevention and early diagnosis mental health the health of workers in jobs exposed to unhealthy environment, danger and high risk?
 • These programs are carried out in practice?
 • Regular consultations are held with mental health professionals funded by company?  What are the preventive measures carried out by the companies?
• Will the company was limited to only enforce the laws?
• Will all study on mental health, we heard at conferences by national speakers and we read in expensive books, in practice represent mere fiction?

Now, to search the House of the deceased is comparable to act of a vulture sniffing carrion. One way to deflect the focus and direct all the blame to one person.

This accident is still very poorly understood.

Reviewed by Dr. Gustavo Coutinho Bacellar-occupational physician

“Manchete alemã!” Maioria dos pilotos com depressão esconde doença das empresas

A maioria dos pilotos que sofrem de depressão oculta a doença das companhias e das autoridades aéreas, segundo um estudo divulgado hoje (5) pelo jornal alemão Bild. O problema veio à tona após a queda do avião da Germanwings, com 150 pessoas a bordo, no último dia 24, na região dos Alpes franceses. O copiloto da companhia, Andreas Lubitz, que teria deliberadamente derrubado avião, que fazia a ligação entre Barcelona (Espanha) e Dusseldorf (Alemanha), sofria de depressão e, segundo a investigação em curso, fez buscas na internet sobre métodos de suicídio na véspera da viagem. Segundo o estudo divulgado pelo Bild, o caso de Andreas Lubitz não é único entre os pilotos, que procuram esconder os problemas de saúde dos seus superiores. A análise, do diretor do Departamento de Medicina da Organização Civil Internacional da Aviação, Anthony Evans, datada de novembro de 2013, revela a existência de déficits graves no acompanhamento dos pilotos em matéria de saúde mental. De acordo com o estudo, cerca de 60% dos pilotos que sofrem algum tipo de depressão decidem continuar a voar sem comunicar aos empregadores. Com base na análise de 1.200 casos de pilotos com depressão, o trabalho de Evans revela que cerca de 15% dos profissionais optam por tratar-se em segredo com medicamentos que conseguem por seus próprios meios, e apenas 25% declaram ao empregador que está fazendo tratamento.   O estudo resulta da observação de casos entre 1997 e 2001, informa o Bild, que destaca ainda a enorme pressão a que são submetidos os pilotos e o fato de um diagnóstico de depressão implicar seu afastamento do serviço. A investigação alemã sobre queda do avião da Germanwings revelou que Lubitz fez, há alguns anos, antes de receber a licença de piloto, tratamento psicoterapêutico por ter tendências suicidas. Nas buscas à casa do copiloto e dos pais foi descoberto que Andreas Lubitz estava em tratamento e que tinha um atestado médico para o dia da catástrofe, que não tinha comunicado à companhia. Fonte: Agência Brasil Comentário: Esta “manchete” bem tendenciosa, me leva a muitos questionamentos: E os programas de prevenção e diagnóstico precoce a saúde mental a saúde dos trabalhadores em trabalhos expostos a ambiente insalubre, periculosidade e alto risco ?  Estes programas são realizados na prática ?  São realizadas consultas periódicas com profissionais da saúde mental custeados pela compania?  Quais foram as medidas preventivas realizadas pelas empresas ?  Será que a compania se limitou de somente cumprir a legislação? Será que tudo que estudamos sobre saúde mental, ouvimos em congressos por palestrantes nacionais e lemos em caros livros, na prática representam meras obras de ficção? Agora, fazer busca na casa do falecido é comparável ao ato de um abutre farejando carniça. Uma forma de desviar o foco e direcionar toda a culpa para uma só pessoa. Este acidente ainda está muito mal esclarecido! Comentado por Dr. Gustavo Coutinho Bacellar – Médico do Trabalho

150 people died in plane Accidental France

An Airbus A320 of the German company Germanwings fell on Tuesday morning in southern France, killing 150 people (144 passengers and 6 crew members.

The plane was going from Barcelona (Spain) to Dusseldorf (Germany) and fell by steep so 8min

Were aboard 67 German, 45 Spanish and Turkish

The wreck is at 2,000 meters altitude in the Alps.

A black box was found. Accident causes are still unknown.

Source: G1

Opportunity! Course of Occupational Management a distance

Distance learning course on Occupational Safety and Heath is a course promoted by the ILO.

Its main objective épromover knowledge and understanding of how to manage the Health and Occupational Security Service.

Hours: 500 hours

Link: http://www.ilo.org/safework/events/couraces/WCMS_229077/lang–en/índex.htm

Source: Journal Protection number 279, page 18, February 2015

Things you should know about the Burnout Syndrome!

When Arianna Huffington collapsed at her desk in 2007, she woke to find herself covered in a pool of blood. Sporting a broken cheekbone from the fall, the incident spurred the editor-in-chief to sit up and rethink her workaholic lifestyle.

Since then, Huffington has made it her mission to raise awareness around work-life balance with her “sleep evangelist” mantra infused across the HuffPost website. From her “GPS for the Soul” app to installing nap rooms inside her New York headquarters, it’s rare for the media mogul not to mention sleep deprivation in TV appearances or her weekly editor’s note.

CNN anchor Maggie Lake sat down with Huffington to discuss redefining success as outlined in her new book “Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life.”

“It’s very important to recognize [burnout] is a global phenomenon.

I was in South Korea recently where we also have Huffington Post. Stress and burnout are much worse there than in the United States. People consume alcohol four times as much as a way to alleviate stress; 40 people commit suicide a day. You go to China, and stress is now a daily topic of conversation because people have paid such a price.”

“I believe we need to define success beyond the two metrics of money and power.

[We need] to include a third metric that incorporates our health, well-being and wisdom. A capacity to be connected with our better selves… Not to miss the moment — because that’s all we have. We can’t DVR our lives and watch it later.”

“Nothing kills creativity more than burnout.

So in fact, the best thing we can do for our careers is to foster and nurture that creativity and that effectiveness… There is absolutely no trade off between doing well in our jobs and taking care of our own human capital.”

“The situation is changing.

In Germany, Volkswagen gives employees company phones which are automatically turned off at 6pm and then turned on again at 7am… Here in the United States, 35% of large and medium size corporations have introduced some stress reduction policies. Businesses are losing $300 billion a year because of stress… All of these things that we are discussing do not just affect our personal lives, they affect the bottom line.”

“Introducing even five minutes of meditation.

Now meditation is really our quiet time. It is time to unplug from all our devices, unplug from the world… all my smartphones, my iPad, whatever I have is outside my bedroom. I never charge smartphones by the bed.”

See the interview : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/01/business/is-the-global-workforce-headed-for-a-burnout/index.html

From Maggie Lake, CNN and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, for CNN