Charles Owen has long been a name synonymous with safety and research in the equestrian industry.
In 2021 the riding helmet manufacturer investigated mental health in riders for the first time in its history, in a landmark study which has revealed staggering findings.
The study was conducted last year by University of Sussex MSc student Charlotte Ricca and involved an incredible 1,007 riders.
The study asked participants to share details of any falls in the past 12 months. It then went on to evaluate their mental health before the fall, after the fall and in the most recent two-week period during the study. Mental health was measured using an industry standard test (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al, 2001).
58% of concussed participants reported a significant increase in depression and anxiety scores after their fall (graph 2).
The data showed that the more severe the head injury, the more severe the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results also found that 30% of riders who suffered from depression had prolonged mental health problems, some up to one year after their accident.
It is for this reason Charles Owen encourages riders to replace their helmet after every accident (because helmet damage is often hidden) and replace them every 3-5 years depending on how often they are worn.
They should also ideally carry the British kitemark with PAS015:2011 standard, (involving more strict tests than other standards) as not only will a good quality helmet protect their physical health, but potentially their mental health too.
The findings of this study will be released as part of a ‘Helmet Safety for Mental Health’ video campaign being launched during Mental Health Awareness Week (9th -15th May 2022) in conjunction with Riders Minds, a mental health charity dedicated to supporting 19 million UK riders with their mental health.
You can join Charles Owen and Riders Minds in raising awareness of this issue by sharing the hashtag #togetherwecan during Mental Health Awareness Week.
If you've had a fall, use our Head First Checker.