Mental Health in Equestrian Sport

Equestrian Australia (EA) wants to boost the awareness of common issues that arise in the sporting community where there is currently a lack of information and education provided around mental health. 

The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that in any one year 20% of Australians between 16 and 85 years old had a common mental illness and this increases to 26% in 16-24-year-olds. 

Two common illnesses were found to be anxiety and depressive disorders.

Last week Alison Gestier and Di Saunders, EA pathway managers, attended a half-day workshop facilitated by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Performance Psychology staff designed to educate and up-skill people who work in sport about mental health. The workshop demonstrated the relevance of mental health to performance in a sporting context and equips participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to someone with poor mental health.

Training was provided on the 4-R model:

• How to RECOGNIZE symptoms of poor mental health in others
• Techniques to REACH OUT and support someone in distress
• How to REFER to a mental health professional and to recognize when this is necessary
• Ways to REMAIN SUPPORTIVE over time

The delivery format was varied and gave participants knowledge and hands-on experience in recognizing, supporting, and assisting in the management of mental health issues.

From this, EA is going to develop an online workshop to inform and educate equestrian community members about these issues and provide this as an additional elective on the coaching pathway in 2018.

Mental Health in Equestrian Sport