As a former professional jockey, I reached a point where I had to step away from the sport and change professions to prioritize my mental health. Because I know what it feels like to be in that position, I never want another jockey to feel they are without support or options. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month–a time to shine a light on mental health, share hope, and remind people that reaching out for help is a sign of strength. I've been working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Jockeys' Guild to address the unique mental wellness challenges jockeys face and drive change across the sport.I spent 12 years as a jockey before retiring due to mental health struggles. What the public sees on race day often hides a much harsher reality–one that nearly destroyed my life and family.Being a jockey means putting your life on the line every day while also maintaining incredibly demanding physical standards. At 5'9″, I had to keep my weight at 114 pounds through strict dieting and constant self-discipline. Even as I won 253 races in 2019, the strain on my body and mind was mounting, and by 2024, my win total had dropped to just 42. The combination of physical strain and injuries took a real toll on my mental health.Like many professional athletes, I tried to push through and keep everything bottled up. For a long time, I saw therapy as a sign of weakness, something that went against the toughness and resilience the sport demands. But the stress became overwhelming, and it was affecting both my career and my family life. With the encouragement of my wife, jockey Katie Davis, I finally sought help, and that decision changed everything. Instead of losing what mattered most, I found the tools to cope, heal, and continue forward with a healthier perspective.Therapy changed my life. It gave me a safe space to express my problems to someone who truly understood. I learned to sort out what I could and couldn't control, practiced meditation, and focused on positivity. These tools taught me how to stay strong and calm through the toughest situations. I started eating healthier and taking ice baths to help with pain management. Most importantly, I realized that seeking help wasn't weakness, it was the strongest thing I could do.My decision to retire was not just about leaving racing. It was about choosing to be a better father and husband. Walking away from the only profession I had ever known was scary, but it was also the clearest decision I have ever made. Now, working with HISA and Jockeys' Guild, my goal is to make sure other jockeys do not have to go down the same destructive path I did and are able to remain in the sport while safely and effectively managing their mental health.This is where Congress can make a real difference. We need federal funding to develop comprehensive support systems: therapists who understand the unique pressures of our sport, nutritionists who can help jockeys maintain weight safely, personal trainers for injury prevention, education programs, and recovery equipment – all the things most other professional athletes already have access to. The industry has made progress in recognizing these needs, including new initiatives like HISA and the Jockeys' Guild's partnership with Onrise, which gives jockeys access to confidential, athlete-specific mental health care. But we still need greater, well-funded support that reaches every corner of the racing community.HISA and Jockeys' Guild, along with the congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, will host a Professional Athlete Roundtable on mental health at the United States Capitol on September 16. The goal is to raise awareness of the issues jockeys face by bringing together jockeys and other professional athletes to discuss our unique mental health challenges and the importance of access to appropriate resources. The stigma around mental health in sports is slowly breaking down, but lasting change requires real, institutional support.Jockeys, like other professional athletes, have long provided the American public with entertainment and relaxation, and the racing industry provides economic value to communities all over the country. Now it is time for policymakers to provide its athletes with support in return. I made the difficult decision to step away from racing to focus on my well-being and my family. With congressional funding and industry commitment to mental health, future jockeys can access the support they need without facing that same difficult choice.–Trevor McCarthy is a retired jockey, winner of 1,871 races and member of the Jockeys' Guild who now works with HISA and the Guild on mental health initiatives.The post Letter To The Editor: Congressional Action Needed to Support Jockeys’ Mental Health appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.