Wings, Wellness and Work-Life Balance: A Cabin Crew’s Perspective

For International Mental Health Day we’ve rolled out a campaign to highlight and raise awareness on mental health and well-being in the aviation industry. Wellbeing is often minimised in importance along with other mental health challenges, leading to more serious issues down the line which affect both professionals performance and personal lives.

In this article we explore some of the key mental health challenges in aviation, specifically for cabin crew including wellbeing, fatigue, burnout and lack of work-life balance. It emphasises how wellbeing shouldn’t be treated as a “nice to have”, it should be prioritised and integrated into the safety framework that governs aviation.

We spoke to Mayra Leal who is a Corporate Flight Attendant and Wellness & Mental Health advocate. Aside from her role as cabin crew, Mayra’s work centres around wellbeing and mental health in aviation. As a certified health coach she helps professionals reconnect to their biology by prioritising sleep, nutrition, nervous system regulation and recovery. With the ultimate goal being to help with their performance both in the cabin and outside.

Mayra’s educational background consists of a Bachelor's degree in Advertising from the University of Houston. She is also a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Q1. What would you say are the leading causes of burnout and stress that you often see with your clients or people you work with?

One of the biggest contributors to burnout is the pressure to take on too much. I feel many of us are natural high-achievers, we want to be seen as capable, dependable, the one who never drops the ball. Underneath that is often a fear of being judged as lazy, or of letting someone down, so we say “yes” when we’re already stretched thin.

I’ve certainly been there. For years, I took pride in being the “Wonder Woman” who could juggle it all. Every time someone asked for help, I raised my hand. It felt good to be needed… until it didn’t. Eventually, the weight of it all caught up with me. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and had no idea how to climb back out.

Pair that with irregular schedules, poor sleep, and the constant stimulation of the job, and it’s a recipe for burnout. What I’ve learned is that setting boundaries isn’t selfish, it's necessary. Without real rest and recovery, even the most passionate and dedicated professionals will eventually lose their spark.

Q2. What challenges unique to being cabin crew would you say affect mental health and wellbeing?

Being cabin crew is a lifestyle that asks a lot from us. Our sleep is constantly disrupted, our bodies rarely get the chance to fully reset, and long stretches away from home can take a quiet toll. Add in the limited access to truly nourishing food on the road, and even the basics of taking care of yourself can feel like an uphill climb.

On top of that, there’s the emotional side of the job. Every flight requires us to show up with patience, calm, and a smile, whether we’re dealing with anxious passengers, unexpected conflicts, or sudden changes. That kind of emotional labor is invisible to most people, but it can be incredibly draining when layered on top of fatigue.

This is why wellbeing isn’t just a “nice-to-have”. A tired or depleted crew member isn’t just struggling personally, they’re also more vulnerable to mistakes and less equipped to handle emergencies. Taking care of mental health in this industry isn’t separate from safety, it’s truly part of it.

Q3. What mental health resources or support systems do you think aviation employers should provide?

The first step is recognizing that rest is non-negotiable. Crew need quiet, private spaces or hotel rooms during long rest periods, not makeshift areas where quality sleep is impossible. Rested crew are not just happier, they’re safer.

Beyond rest, employers can make a real difference by offering regular wellness programs, whether that’s virtual breathwork, meditation, or stress-regulation tools. Partnerships with local wellness centers or small stipends for recovery services would also go a long way. Even simple education around nutrition and sleep, woven into ongoing training, could empower crew to care for themselves on the road. Additionally, making sure healthier food options are available on layovers and in-flight would support that effort.

When employers treat wellness as essential, they don’t just reduce burnout. They strengthen loyalty, keep people in the industry longer, and create safer operations overall.

Q4. Do you believe there is still a stigma around mental health in the aviation industry?

Yes! Aviation has long rewarded ‘pushing through’, working through fatigue, stress, or emotional strain without showing it. Many crew worry that admitting to mental health struggles could affect how they’re seen, or even their job security.

The good news is that things are beginning to shift. More people are speaking up, and more leaders are starting to recognize that ignoring mental health puts both safety and retention at risk. The more we normalize open conversations, the more stigma dissolves. Supporting mental health is really about creating environments where crews can thrive, both as professionals and as people.

Q5. What do you think affects cabin crew's willingness to seek help for mental health struggles?

A lot of it comes down to values and stigma. Some people simply don’t value personal development or wellbeing until they’re in crisis. Others hesitate because they don’t want to be seen as weak, so they try to “tough it out” instead of asking for help.

That’s why I feel leadership is so important. When leaders model healthy behaviors and show that it’s normal to prioritize wellbeing, it creates permission for everyone else. Even fun, light-hearted initiatives, like wellness challenges or deep sleep competitions, can make participation feel less intimidating and more cultural. When the environment is supportive, people are far more likely to seek help early, and that benefits both individuals and the teams they work on.

Q6. What kind of training or education around mental health would you like to see in the aviation sector?

We are constantly trained on safety. We practice evacuations every year. These things are mandatory because they keep people safe. I believe wellness training deserves the same level of priority.

Imagine if every recurrent training included modules on sleep, nutrition, nervous system regulation, and stress management. Imagine if these practices weren’t just mentioned once, but actually reinforced on a regular basis, just like safety training. That consistency would give crew real tools to care for themselves, reduce burnout, and improve focus in high-pressure situations. At the end of the day, it would create safer skies and healthier teams.

Q7. In the aviation industry, how can we attract talent by promoting better work-life balance in aviation roles?

To keep attracting talent, aviation needs to show that it values people as much as performance.

That means protecting rest periods so they’re actually restorative, offering more flexibility where possible, and creating wellness initiatives that show investment in crew members as human beings. Building community is just as important, people want to feel connected and supported, not isolated while away from home.

When wellbeing and balance are prioritized, people don’t just join the industry, they stay. That’s how aviation can reduce the costly cycle of burnout and turnover while creating a workplace people are proud to be part of.

Q8. Do you have any other information or tips on welfare in aviation and managing mental health?

Wellbeing doesn’t always come from big changes. Sometimes it’s the small, consistent practices that make the biggest difference, a few minutes of mindful breathing, a walk in fresh air after a flight, journaling before bed, or simply choosing water instead of another coffee. Those micro-habits build resilience over time.

At the same time, we can’t expect individuals to carry all the responsibility. Employers and leaders have a role in creating environments where wellness is normalized, rest is protected, and resources are easy to access. When wellbeing is woven into the same safety framework that governs everything else in aviation, both crew and passengers benefit.

Q9. We would love to promote your website or service. Please tell us a bit more about this.

I guide aviation professionals in finding balance above the clouds through personalized 1:1 coaching. My focus is on helping crew and corporate aviation staff prevent burnout, manage stress, and create sustainable wellbeing practices that support both their careers and personal lives. Feel free to explore my website for more details.