20 June 2019
EDP Mental Health Campaign

Mental health provision has long been an issue very close to my heart – and that’s why I am supportive of the EDP’s ‘Open Up’ campaign, which is backed by Norfolk’s Stephen Fry and others.

My father sadly suffered a complete and tragic life collapse as a result of a toxic mix of head injuries, a career dependency on gambling, untreated mental illness including depression and his alcoholism. (Only ten years after winning the Grand National in 1958 as HM The Queen Mother’s jockey, he lost his marriage, livelihood and access to his children because of these problems. Whilst the then fledgling Injured Jockeys Fund did their best and helped get dad a council flat and a TV, he died a broken man in 1978, a year after he and I had finally met).

I have also seen the devastation that mental health problems have inflicted upon the families of my friends – including the suicide of a late friend’s son after years of battling bipolar disorder.

Mental health support is therefore something that I have a deep and profound interest in. No one believes more passionately than I do that good mental health advice and counselling is vital to the health and success of us all.

For too long, mental health was viewed as the ‘Cinderella’ of our NHS – but that has begun to change. Make no mistake, more certainly still needs to be done, particularly here in Norfolk. However, positive steps have been made – and I remain determined to continue campaigning for further progress through my work both inside and outside of the House of Commons.

As you may have seen, inspired by my own father’s battles, I set up The Bridge of Hope project to help those who have had a “fall” in life and give them a second chance in life with a job and support. While currently working mainly in the horse racing industry, the project is rapidly expanding and other industries are expressing an interest in giving jobs to those who had such a “fall”. I also continue to actively work with my parliamentary colleagues, including Sir Norman Lamb MP, on issues surrounding mental health.

To find out more about the campaign please click here.

#EDPOpenUp