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Anxiety. Depression. Loneliness. These are some of the most common issues that flight attendants go through, often struggling without anyone knowing. Nastassja Lewis’ story was no different—but it didn’t start out that way.
Born in Jamaica but raised in Indianapolis, Lewis went to Ball State University. After a rough divorce, Lewis applied to be a flight attendant in 2013. Accepted as a flight attendant and thriving, Lewis loved traveling, interacting with people, and providing a better life for her and her son. But in 2018, Lewis hit rock bottom, as so many flight attendants do.
“I was having a lot of suicidal ideations, and was really struggling,” Lewis says. She believed that committing suicide was imminent until she felt the need to create a peer-support group to see if other flight attendants were going through the same thing. About a year went by of her ignoring that thought, when ultimately in 2019—just before the pandemic—she created the group. She invited the flight attendants she knew to the group, and that’s when the floodgates opened. Flight attendants from all over began sharing their own struggles while also supporting one another.
“I didn’t want to feel alone anymore,” Lewis says. “I went to therapy for the first time because of the group in January of 2020. That changed everything for me, and I felt like I wanted to live because I finally had a space where I could feel safe to speak about the things I was going through.”
Once the pandemic started, thousands of people started joining Lewis’ Facebook group. “They [flight attendants] were struggling too, which was when I felt there had to be something I could do to not just help myself, but help other flight attendants globally.”
Enter th|AIR|apy, a 501-C3 non-profit founded by Lewis after the group she created hit new heights. “I wanted to build a peer-to-peer platform that was anonymous, 100% confidential and free for flight attendants,” Lewis says.
Th|AIR|apy is a help text line run by flight attendants across the globe. When a flight attendant needs help or someone to vent to that understands what they are going through, they can text the helpline at 833-532-1096. Within five minutes, they will be matched with a volunteer flight attendant who asks “How can I support you?” Then, they talk for however long is needed. The best part is that, unlike large corporations, th|AIR|apy doesn’t save, share or sell any personal data, so users’ information is kept private.
The volunteer flight attendants must be vetted and trained before they are able to respond to incoming help requests. “Everyone that volunteers has to fill out an application, and we do a full background check on everyone,” Lewis says. “Then there is a ten-hour training requirement on crisis management, on how to respond and speak with somebody who is in crisis.” Once that’s complete, they’re able to start responding to those support requests.
As soon as a message comes in to the helpline at th|AIR|apy, it is sent to all the volunteers at once. If a volunteer is in a space to reply at the time, the volunteer reaches back out and starts the conversation. “One factor that helps a lot is that there’s no pressure if you don’t want to [respond to the message],” Lewis says. The good part about having so many volunteers, and globally at that, is that there is always someone who is in the head space to pick up that text and start the conversation with the flight attendant who needs support at that time.
Within the first few months of launching th|AIR|apy, they had more than three thousand messages exchanged. Now, they’re nearing over twenty thousand. With th|AIR|apy helping so many people, Lewis has some thoughts on what’s next for them.
“I see th|AIR|apy being an integral part in conversations and legislation in lobbying to get laws passed that will protect flight attendants in the air,” Lewis says. “I see every airline utilizing this service as part of their mental health programs to support their flight attendants.”
While one day they hope to integrate phone calls and support for pilots, th|AIR|apy is currently focusing on helping flight attendants as best as they can. To anyone struggling with mental health issues, Lewis has one piece of advice: “Let somebody in. They may have some resource, some advice, or a safe space [for you]. Say something because you never know what doors will open for you.”
To see how you can get involved with th|AIR|apy, visit their website at https://getthairapy.org/. If you’re a flight attendant who needs support, text th|AIR|apy at 833-532-1096. If you’re struggling with your mental health or are having suicidal thoughts, call 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org for more.
