BGA launches Grooms Minds online resource
Wednesday 10 October 2018
On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, the British Grooms Association (BGA) launches Grooms Minds online which has eight areas to support mental health including a mental wellbeing checker, self-help zone, video scripts and real life case studies.
The BGA has developed these online resources in response to its survey last year which revealed that over 70% of grooms have been bullied (including being the recipient of derogatory comments) within the workplace, either by their employer or by fellow workers and 83% of grooms who responded are suffering from stress and/or mental wellbeing problems.
Just 12 months on, the BGA now has a strong message of ‘You are not alone.’ For so many grooms, this will become invaluable and life changing.
Sylvia Bruce, a mental health in the workplace consultant who helped develop the web pages commented: “Grooms Minds is vitally important because it promotes the principle of talking mental health matters and encourages members’ mental health awareness and confidence.
In addition it will enhance the profession, industry brand and reputation; aspiring to create more empathic, compassionate and supportive working environments thus attracting, engaging and retaining the best talent – surely a win/win for everyone involved.“
Iain Graham, Chief Executive for British Showjumping commented “As a highly competitive sport the focus tends to primarily be given to the mental well-being of its participants without perhaps thinking that it is of equal importance to focus on those that underpin and support it. This is why the BGA Grooms Minds portal and campaign is such a crucial one when you bear in mind the enormity of the roles and responsibilities that a Groom embraces during their career.
The Grooms Minds online project has been generously supported by British Dressage, British Showjumping, British Eventing, the British Horse Society, the Pony Club and World Horse Welfare.
For more information visit https://britishgrooms.org.uk/grooms-minds
