Aviation

What is Wellbeing and Why is it Important?
RESPONSE TEAM WELLNESS MANAGEMENT
PERSONAL WELLBEING – QUICK REFERENCE
Wellbeing is a combination of mind, body and spirit which, when healthy and in balance, allow us to live our lives as we choose. It is
how we manage our feelings and behaviors; how we make decisions; and how we interact with others.
Wellbeing is important because it is impacted during times of great stress, such as responding to an airline disaster. The hours you
will work and what you do will be different from your normal routine. It will be easy to get “out of balance”, which could negatively
impact you, your relationships, and your health.
Awareness of the causes and signs of stress, knowing coping strategies, and where to get help during a disaster, can keep you “inbalance”.
It won’t make the response easy or stress-free, but it will allow you to cope in a positive and healthy manner.
Why is this important? Statistics show that 60-70% of people involved in an airline accident that do not get help to deal with the
stress leave their aviation career within two years of the event.
What should I do? Use the Coping Strategies Self-Assessment (page 3), understand stress and how it can affect you, manage your
wellbeing during an investigation, and continue to monitor your wellbeing after the investigation is complete.
Common Signs of Stress
• Emotional/Behavioral signs include:
• Depression, fear
• Changes in life routines such as sleeping, eating, exercise
• Increased use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs
• Physical signs include:
• Grinding your teeth
• Headaches, neck aches
• Stomach disorders
• Muscle tension
• Twitching
What You Can Do About It
• Develop positive coping strategies NOW
• Fill out a Coping Strategies Self-Assessment and set a goal to raise your score
• Maintain a supportive group of friends to socialize with regularly
• Pursue a hobby or a sport you enjoy
• Laugh frequently
• Limit alcohol, sugar, caffeine, tobacco
• During and following a catastrophic response
• Call home
• Continue your regular exercise program
• Try to keep your regular sleep schedule
• Use Employee Assistance Program, or critical incident response volunteers
• Do not make big life changes or major decisions during the investigation or for some time after a major event
• Designate a friend or family member to assist your family when needed
• If troubling thoughts about the event continue unabated after 30-45 days, seek help
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