Racing Welfare leading sport's campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week

Monday marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week with charity Racing Welfare leading the sport's response to the national initiative.

Racing Welfare is delivering a digital campaign throughout the week to highlight the importance of engaging with the natural world to benefit mental health, with a new Equine Productions video focusing on the theme with members of staff at Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere yard.

There was a 153 per cent year-on-year increase in mental health support offered by Racing Welfare last year, with calls to the charity’s support line for mental health increasing by 22 per cent and grants provided for mental health treatment up 99 per cent.

People working in racing are encouraged to complete the Industry Wellbeing Survey, compiling data on the wellbeing of the sport’s workforce, which closes on Sunday.

Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare’s chief executive said: "Mental Health Awareness Week is a hugely important campaign for us and the industry as a whole and we are proud to lead the initiative on behalf of racing again this year.

"I hope that the week raises awareness of the help available through Racing Welfare and that anyone in need of support feels able to get in touch with us.

"I would encourage everyone who works in the sport to complete the Industry Wellbeing Survey. This is a fantastic opportunity to have your say and shape the future of workplaces right across the industry."

Chris Hughes: 'There is no feeling like being on a racehorse for your mental health'Credit: Matt Alexander

ITV Racing presenter and former Love Island contestant Chris Hughes talked to Racing Welfare about mental health and the benefits of working with horses on the On Track, Off Course podcast.

Hughes said: "There is no feeling like being on a racehorse for your mental health. You escape everything, it’s an unbelievable thing, you feel free, you feel like you have escaped every trouble in your life. You feel like it’s just you and a horse, it doesn’t matter who the horse is underneath you, that horse is like your friend."

If you work in racing and are struggling with mental health issues, contact Racing Welfare's 24-hour phone line for support on 0800 6300 443.

Read more on this topic . . .

Racing Welfare launches mental health online survey

'It's a crisis we've never seen before' – Racing Welfare riding to the rescue

'We want to help' – Racing Welfare urges those in difficulty to seek support

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday