Suicide: Are These Tragedies Preventable?

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330 – July/August, 2024

By Heather Smith Thomas

The horse industry was recently shocked by two trainer suicides. Many in the industry are looking for a way to vocalize support for their own trainers, but feel they need more ways to help than just “being nice to your trainer.”

Since suicide is a major public health concern, it’s a tough topic that needs to be discussed. In 2021, for instance, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death, claiming the lives of more than 48,100 people. Suicide is complicated and tragic, but often preventable if friends and family members know the warning signs and how to get help. There are no easy answers, however. Help must be tailored to the individual needs and problems of the troubled person.

Courtney Chown – Losing A Father

Horsewoman and competitor Courtney Chown lost her father to suicide on January 20, 2020. Tom Chown was a successful horseman and trainer. “There are probably many factors involved when people take their own lives. Maybe something from their childhood, addiction problems, unbearable stress, guilt, etc. For my dad, it was probably a combination of things. I obviously don’t know all the reasons but I do know that it doesn’t make him a lesser person; he was a great and talented man,” she says.

Click here to read the complete article
330 – July/August, 2024