Mental Health Awareness Week

Racing Welfare has announced plans for their 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week campaign,
beginning on Monday 10th May. The charity leads the racing industry’s response to the national
initiative which is run by the Mental Health Foundation and which this year follows the theme of
Nature.

Mental Health Awareness Week aims to highlight the importance of thinking about your own
wellbeing as well as those around you and also aims to promote open conversations on all aspects of
mental health. Racing Welfare’s campaign also raises awareness of the mental health services
offered by the charity, which have only become more important during the pandemic.

Racing Welfare has seen first hand the effect of Covid-19 on the mental health of the industry’s
workforce and by the end of 2020, there had been a 153% year on year increase in the Mental
Health Support they offered. Calls to Racing’s Support Line for mental health issues were the top
call type for the year, seeing a 22% increase from 2019 and grants provided for mental health
treatment increased by 99% in 2020.

Tying into the Mental Health Foundation’s theme of Nature, Racing Welfare will be delivering a
digital campaign throughout the week highlighting the importance of engaging with the natural
world to benefit your mental health. A new video, produced in conjunction with Equine Productions
and the staff at Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere training operation, will also be released.

Racing Welfare’s campaign will also be highlighting the important Industry Wellbeing Survey that
closes on Sunday 16th May. The survey, which was recently launched by the Industry Wellbeing
Committee, is setting out to compile crucial baseline data on the wellbeing of the sport’s entire
workforce. The results of the survey will be fundamental in enabling real improvement in the health
and wellbeing of racing’s people going forward, by informing the wellbeing strategy and the kind of
support which will be provided to employers and employees alike. Anyone working in any role
within the industry can fill out the survey here: https://horseracingindustry.gooddayatwork.co.uk/Login.aspx.

Everyone who completes the survey will also receive their own 15 page personalised wellbeing report.

Racing Welfare’s Chief Executive, Dawn Goodfellow, 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.”