RCPsych SEPSIG 13 Conference

The event will take place in person at the College. There are early bird rates available until 16 September so make the most of reduced rates until then. Please note spaces are limited.

Book your place now.

• 9.00 – Registration
• 9.15 – Welcome speech from Dr Amit Mistry, Chair of the SEPSIG
• 9.30-10.30 – Dr Caz Nahman and Nicole Pavier’s combined presentations: A psychiatrist and former athlete discuss their experience of managing within an unhealthy sport environment. Nicole Pavier discusses how the gymnastics alliance was formed.
• 10.30 – Tea break
• 11-11.45 - Symposium 1: Lessons from the Whyte Report and promoting safeguarding culture in sport
• 11.45-12.30 – Panel Q and A (all the mornings speakers)
• 12.30-1.30 – Lunch
• 1.30-3.00 – Symposium 2: High-speed Occupational Psychiatry – lessons from Formula 1
• 3.00-3.30 – Tea break
• 3.30-4.30 – SEPSIG Business meeting

Symposium 1: Lessons from the Whyte Report and promoting safeguarding culture in sport

Background: An independent investigation commissioned by Sport England and UK Sport was made following allegations of mistreatment within the sport of gymnastics. This was published in June 2022 as the Whyte Review. A Sport Psychiatrist and former gymnast share their previous experiences of mental health care within an unhealthy sport environment. This will include discussions on the formation of Gymnast Alliance and key points from the Whyte review. This will lead onto interactive discussions on potential next steps and what the role psychiatry should be?

Speakers

John Donnelly CBE

Head of Integrity at UK Sport, with a wide remit for wellbeing and conduct in the High-Performance System. Also advised: the FA on grievance and conduct issues for players coaches and officials; Ulster Rugby on organisational values and culture; the ECB on increasing diversity of match officials; and Sport Ireland on its Culture Enhancement Programme.

Previously 36 years of fun, travel and danger as a soldier. Served all over the World including: the Middle East and Iraq, the Balkans, Germany, Cyprus, Afghanistan, the Falklands, Africa, Hong Kong, Canada, the USA and Argentina, retiring as a brigadier.

Held a range of operational command and leadership appointments, picked up a few medals along the way. Finished as the Director of Personal Services for the Army, responsible for discipline and conduct, grievance, inquiries, welfare and well-being, health (including mental health), pay and pensions and compulsory drugs testing.

A keen sportsman, but ability fails to match enthusiasm; achievements include setting up the Army Elite Sports Programme and running the adaptive sports programme for injured soldiers. Serious weekend two-wheeled ‘Lycra-lout’ and keen supporter of Irish Rugby.

Married, with two ‘young adults’, three bikes and never enough time.

Nicole Pavier – athlete survivor and whistleblower in gymnastics

I have been part of the gymnast alliance and work closely with Gymnasts 4 change. My testimony was used in the creation of The Whyte review. I was a gymnast for 12 years in both the Southwest and East Midlands spending time on the GB development squad and England Squad. Retired medically due deteriorating eating disorder and back injury. Post gymnastics I became a Paediatric nurse, working mostly in an emergency department where I have used my experiences to promote mental health and wellbeing of children. I am now training to be a paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Caz Nahman

Dr Caz Nahman is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist currently working in an Oxford community eating disorders team as well as leading on Child psychiatry teaching for medical students at Oxford University. She has additional training from the ISSP (international society for sports psychiatry) and works part time with athletes – particular interests are eating disorders, RED-S and safeguarding. Her interests include compulsive overexercise; youth sport; eating disorders in athletes, life-style psychiatry and medical education. She is a previous executive committee member on the RCPsych Eating disorder Faculty and is now Finance officer/deputy chair of the RCPsych Sport Psychiatry Special Interest Group. She is a co-editor of the RCPsych book “New to eating disorders” – a supervision guide for staff new to the field and a chapter author of one of the Chapters in Case Studies in Sport Psychiatry.

Symposium 2: High-speed Occupational Psychiatry – lessons from Formula 1

Background: Covid-19 caused major disruption to all work environments, none more so than Formula 1. The drive to keep elite sport running as entertainment for the locked down masses placed unprecedented levels of stress on teams doing their best to function in a very abnormal world. High speed adaptation came at a cost in terms of mental health. What was the impact seen? What are the wider learnings for the NHS and other organisations in terms of managing change effectively in order to avoid high levels of post pandemic burnout? This review covers the organisational response and includes relevant anonymised clinical case studies.

Speakers

Dr Phil Hopley

Dr Phil Hopley is a Medical Doctor and Consultant Psychiatrist. His training in forensic, general and sport psychiatry combined with a career playing Premiership rugby developed his passion for the mental health of elite performers in sport and business. He is a founding member of SEPSIG.

Phil is mental health advisor to a number of blue-chip organisations and sport bodies guiding mental health strategy and providing coaching/crisis support. He has been Mental Fitness Coach to the McLaren F1 Race Team since 2020.

Phil is also nationally recognised as an accomplished expert witness in a wide range of medico-legal areas including high profile sport disciplinary matters. In his downtime mindful dog walking, watching sport, playing golf and keeping up with the next gen of Hopleys helps to keep him balanced.

Gary Bloom – sport psychotherapist

Gary Bloom is a clinical psychotherapist who treats conditions like depression, anxiety, addictive behaviours, relationship issues and also specialises in teenagers who are finding it hard to find a way in the world.

Gary holds a postgraduate diploma in Psychotherapy and a BA Hons from the University of Wales. His specialities include treating elite sportsmen and women and he presents a radio show on this topic, On The Sporting Couch, on talkSPORT.

Gary Bloom is the Sports Performance Psychotherapist at Oxford United Football Club.

Gary’s first book about his work as a clinical sports psychotherapist ‘Keeping your Head in the Game’ was published by Penguin Books in Feb 2021

Dr Alex Langford

Dr Alexander Langford qualified from Southampton Medical School in 2009. His first few years of medical practice were in the South West, during which time he became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians and completed a BSc in Psychology in 2012. He then moved to South London to start his psychiatric training, became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2014, and moved to Oxford to complete his training in 2018. His NHS consultant posts have been on female and intensive care psychiatric units. He is a supervisor for junior doctors and medical students, and the lead for a consultant training program.

Dr Langford enjoys treating mental illnesses not limited to mood, anxiety, and personality disorders. He likes to use medications assertively and enjoys the flexibility and dynamism of working in private practice. Alex enjoys running (with an increasingly old marathon Personal Best of 2:59:44), chess, and spending time with his family.

Dr Huw Goodwin

Dr Huw Goodwin is a Clinical Psychologist and is the Mental Health Lead at the Royal Ballet School. He previously worked in the NHS in a wide range of mental health settings and has combined this with extensive experience in the world of sport performance.

Huw has provides education, advice and training to professional and Olympic athletes, coaches, sports physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and other support personnel; along with teaching at university and college environments.

Prior to his current career, Huw was an athlete on a UK Sport Olympic training programme, and a professional rugby league player. He is a qualified coach in Rugby League, Handball, and Football, and is currently Head Coach of a professional player development programme in rugby league.

The event will take place at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 21 Prescot Street, London E1 8BB. You can view directions and a map to help you plan your journey.

The Citymapper website/app can help you plan your route within London, giving the best walking, cycling, bus and tube routes available. Use postcode E1 8BB as your destination.