A Pilot Peer Support Programme (PPSP) can be defined as a structure whereby a pilot can get confidential help with mental wellbeing or life stress issues, either for themselves or for a colleague. The confidentiality of the process is absolute, except for certain clearly defined circumstances which are standard medical practice.
At the heart of the programme are Pilot Peers: ordinary line pilots who are trained in basic listening and counselling skills, and who have extensive knowledge of company policies which can assist the pilot in addressing their problems. These Peers are trained, mentored and supported by a suitably qualified Mental Health Professional (MHP), who should ideally be a clinical aviation psychologist. The programmes work best when they are run independently of both management and employee representative organisations by Third Party Healthcare Organisations or Foundations. An Oversight Committee of key stakeholders studies anonymised data from the programme and makes any appropriate recommendations for the company Safety Management Systems as well as for the running of the programme itself. Just Culture principles apply throughout.
EPPSI Guide to PPSPs v.8.1
