What can be done to improve all riders' lives?

Mental health support is changing across the industry

- LUCY ELDER

WHAT support is there for jockeys and could this be better?

For many, these are not new questions, and the help and support available within the industry is constantly evolving, improving and progressing.

In the aftermath of the death of two jockeys within four months, James Banks in February and Liam Treadwell in June, there is a groundswell to reflect on what more could be done to make lasting, positive differences to the lives of those involved in racing.

The importance of early intervention and proactive support, alongside reactive care in racing, has been much discussed.

A study co-authored by Oxford University’s Botnar Research Centre and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found retired jockeys are more than 2.5 times more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression than the general public (news, 23 January). This was released at the same time as plans to increase mental health support for riders following a joint bid to the Racing Foundation from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) and Jockeys Education and Training Scheme, resulting in a £2.3m five-year grant. A new cross-industry working group for mental health has also been formed this year, made up of the PJA, IJF and BHA.

The 2019 Racing Welfare and Liverpool John Moores University study A lifestyle rather than a job: a review and recommendations on mental health support within British racing, also highlighted how widespread the issue is.

The idea of making mental health check-ins as routine and normal as physical health checks has support. It is one of the extensive recommendations in the 2019 Australian study