Originally Posted by
Less Hair
Somebody with -say- impaired vision will be blocked from flying right away but mental illness is a like a taboo sort of thing. Ignoring it will not work but then will people try to just hide it even more?
The difference is that eyesight can be easily and accurately measured. Assessment of mental illness is highly subjective and can be difficult to diagnose. Furthermore, investigations can be self defeating - they apply more pressure on the subject when work/life stress is probably the origin of the illness. I'm aware of a person in a very stressful job - not flying - who finally stepped in front of a tube train after his employer required him to undertake a psychiatric assessment.
In the end it may be that this is a risk which cannot be entirely avoided.