ENGLISH TEXTS
THIERRY JARNET
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By Loic Stecher Chocron
Thierry Jarnet is one of the most respected and talented jockeys of his era. The four-time Cravache d’ Or( Champion Jockey) and four-time winner of the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe( Gr. 1) now puts his experience at the service of young jockeys through a coaching program at AFASEC, where he shares his advice. He also looks back on the suicide of his close friend Alexandre Roussel. For him, change must be driven forward with the institutions.
September meant back-toschool season, even for Thierry Jarnet! Yet the crack jockey no longer needs to learn or be a student. On the contrary, he has switched sides; not the strict teacher, but let’ s say the“ coach.” The cool guy, diplomatic too, who knows how to be firm when needed. For some of his students, he’ s even like a second father.“ Yes, it’ s true that I sometimes become a second father for these young people. My program consists in supporting several young jockeys in different aspects of their profession. This includes the image they project to others, dietetics, behavior with employers and colleagues, for example. Last year, 12 young riders from both flat and jump racing followed the training. They must be selected. Every two weeks, we organize a video conference on a specific theme with a guest speaker. And every week, for one hour, I have an individual interview with each student.” The program lasts six months and is open to all students from AFASEC schools in France, provided they are selected after an examination.“ You must already have ridden in races. That’ s one of the criteria to join the program. At the end of my jockey career, I told myself: it’ s time to pass on your knowledge, your experience. I proposed this to AFASEC, which approved the project. The young people are eager for it.” Thierry Jarnet is well aware of the issues concerning jockeys’ mental health. He reflects on the death of Alexandre Roussel, a shock.“ Two jockeys took their own lives this year, including a close friend. I was in contact with Alexandre up to a week before his death. Mental health among jockeys is heavily tested. It’ s the day everything stops, when you no longer ride in races, that you feel it even more strongly. I made sure to raise the issue with the governing bodies so they would take action. With France Galop, AFASEC, and the Jockeys’ Association, we meet regularly and work on the subject. I think everyone is taking this very seriously and tackling the problem head-on. Things will move quickly. It’ s even vital! Access to psychological support, for example, should be implemented, and psychological tests for license renewal should be introduced.”
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2. MENTAL HEALTH IN OTHER COUNTRIES
MENTAL HEALTH WITHOUT TABOOS IN GREAT BRITAIN
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By Katherine Ford
In Great Britain, it is well understood that mental health is a matter of life and death. Since 2001, one week each year has been dedicated at the national level to raising public awareness of the importance of mental health.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, launched by the Mental Health Foundation, aims to fight stigma and help people understand and care for their own mental health as well as that of others. Every May, millions of people take part in activities to raise funds, raise awareness
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