Comment by BVAA CEO Rob Bartlett

With the notable exception of one or two important sectors of our industry, we’ve reached the time of year when many of us are either on annual leave, or about to pack our bags - myself included (hooray!).

After the last eighteen months of lockdowns, tragedy, and continued uncertainties, it seems to me that we all deserve a break.

In a similar vein, we need to give those around us a break too. 

As my team will tell you, at my insistence, BVAA is very much ‘bandwagon-averse.’  But rarely a day goes by at the moment, when we’ll not hear of a sportsman or sportswoman citing mental health as a reason for stepping back for a while. 

That they are doing so in the middle of an important activity, say the Olympics, football, or here in the UK, the cricket season, seems to raise ire and scoffing in one or two people I know. And a good deal of irrational irritability.

Yet we all are quite happy to state ‘we need a break’ when our turn comes around for a holiday. A tad hypocritical? Perhaps.

A few months ago, when BVAA were hosting regular webinars, we learned from Charlotte Braithwaite – a professional psychotherapist – that there was already a global pandemic. But it was in mental health. An ailment we cannot easily see (and if you happen to be in a good place yourself, one many cannot understand).

Having been around for a while, and having had one or two significant trials of my own in my lifetime, it’s perhaps less difficult for me to see just how easy it is for people to affected by the many pressures of modern life. And some will slip below the bounce-back threshold. 

Rolling of eyes and ‘tutting’ is not an acceptable response. Whether they are family, friends or colleagues, we have an obligation to lend a hand. And give them, and not forgetting ourselves, a break.

Have a great holiday season everyone!

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