Why we need to keep talking about depression in sport

Sport and society has come a long way in our attitude to depression since 2003, when the Sun felt able to run the despicable headline 'Bonkers Bruno Locked Up' following Frank Bruno's sectioning under the Mental Health Act. By contrast, there has been unqualified support and understanding for Kieren Fallon following this week's news that he is to retire from the sport to deal with severe depression.

There is today more material support for mental health issues than ever before and vastly more sympathy from fellow sportsmen, fans and the media. Yet our understanding of the causes behind mental health issues remains rudimentary and our openness about depression still close to non-existent. It would be complacent to believe the battle to understand and tackle mental health problems in sport is anything other than just beginning. In fact, it would be naive to believe we really understand the pursuit of happiness in any sphere, although the world's foremost philosophers have been concerned with little else for the best part of 3,000 years.

Happiness, for racing, is not a common concern. This is not a touchy-feely sport. While in football endless column inches are devoted to the discontent of stars - who resents being played on the left, who wants a new contract, who dislikes the new manager - in racing the expectation is that jockeys should buckle down and get on with things.