Racing Welfare hope to help professionals as mental health study nears end

An industry-wide study into the mental wellbeing of racing professionals and the impact of working practices on mental health is reaching its final stages ahead of publication in May.

Commissioned by Racing Welfare in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), and part-funded by the Racing Foundation, the study was launched in February in an attempt to better understand the positive and negative state of mental health in racing and bloodstock across a range of areas.

As part of the research, 130 people were interviewed and took part in focus groups between July and November, including trainers, jockeys, stable and stud staff, racing office workers and representatives from different industry bodies.

Simone Sear, Racing Welfare’s director of welfare, said: “Racing Welfare is committed to supporting the mental well-being of everyone working in or retired from the horseracing industry.

"Positive mental health enables people to reach their full potential, work productively, cope with life’s stressors and contribute to their communities.

“This ground-breaking research will enable Racing Welfare, and the wider horseracing industry, to make evidence-based decisions in order to develop bespoke mental health support services that are fully accessible to everyone in racing."

With the study reaching its final stages before publication on May 13, Racing Welfare is set to launch an online survey next month to build on the research gained during countrywide interviews and reviewing previous investigations.

Available on the Racing Welfare website from January 14, the confidential survey will look into areas such as working conditions, health and professional development.

Racing received positive feedback over inclusion and passion

Will McConn, of LJMU, said: "From speaking to those in racing there is a strong understanding that life can be quite tough sometimes, in lots of different ways.

"However, they have also spoken about a thriving mental health based around passion, partnership, and inclusion."

He added: "I would ask for as many people as possible to complete the survey, irrespective of where you feel your health is at, to help maximise the enjoyment that the racing workforce obtains from being involved in their sport."

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news