US will allow pilots to take antidepressants

Pilots will soon be allowed to fly if they are taking antidepressant medications under new a U.S. government policy that takes effect Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it was lifting a ban on antidepressants for pilots with mild to moderate depression. To be cleared to fly, pilots who take the drugs must pass screening tests to show they have been successfully treated for at least a year. Officials said they believed the ban had caused pilots to forego treatment or hide the fact they were taking medication to treat depression. The FAA is offering a six-month grace period for pilots to come forward without penalty if they are currently suffering from depression or are under treatment. "We need to change the culture and remove the stigma associated with depression. Pilots should be able to get the medical treatment they need so they can safely perform their duties," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said. Officials said they did not know how many pilots would be affected but noted that about 10 percent of the population suffers from depression.