Sport and Exercise Psychiatry SIG Autumn Conference 2026 - Brain Health: Protecting the Brains of Athletes and optimising Brain Health through Lifestyle Psychiatry
In-person event
| Timings | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | RCPsych, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8BB |
| CPD | 1 CPD point per hour attended, subject to peer approval |
| Non-Member | £180 |
|---|---|
| Consultant (Early Bird) | £120 |
| Resident Doctor / SAS Doctor | £80 |
| Medical Student / Foundation Doctor / Subsidised and Retired Member | £65 |
Event Information
Brain Health: Protecting the Brains of Athletes and Optimising Brain Health through Lifestyle Psychiatry brings together leading voices from lived experience, neurorehabilitation, neuropsychiatry, sports psychiatry and lifestyle medicine.
The conference will explore the complex relationship between repetitive head impacts, brain injury, mental health and long-term brain health in athletes, while considering what can be done now to better protect and support athletes throughout and beyond their sporting careers.
The programme features a powerful lived experience perspective from former professional rugby player Paul Pook, alongside clinical and psychiatric insights from Michael Leavitt and Dr James Burger. The event concludes with Claire Gillvray exploring how the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, social connection and avoiding harmful substances, can help promote brain resilience and support long-term cognitive and mental health.
Together, the speakers will challenge current approaches to athlete brain health and ask an important question: what does "good enough" protection look like, and what more can we do to safeguard athletes' brains and wellbeing?
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:00AM - 9:20AM | Opening and Introduction Caz Nahman, including case vignette |
| 9:20AM - 10:00AM | Beyond the Mask: Brain Health, Mental Health and Lived Experience in Elite Sport Paul Pook (including 10-minute Q&A) |
| 10:00AM - 10:30AM | Are We Failing Our Athletes? A Clinical and Psychiatric Case for Reform Michael Leavitt |
| 10:30AM - 10:50AM | Break |
| Session 2 | |
| 10:50Am - 11:35AM | Protecting Brain Health in Athletes: What is 'Good Enough'? James Burger |
| 11:35AM - 12:15PM | Panel Discussion Paul Pook, Michael Leavitt and James Burger |
| 12:15PM - 12:30PM | UKSI |
| 12:30PM - 1:30PM | Lunch Trainee breakout lunch room |
| Session 3 | |
| 1:30PM - 2:15PM | Lifestyle Psychiatry Claire Gillvray |
| 2:15PM - 2:30PM | Move More Project Launch |
| 2:30PM - 3:00PM | TBC |
| 3:00PM - 3:20PM | Break |
| Session 4 | |
| 3:20PM - 4:00PM | Poster Prize and AGM |
The SEPSIG is pleased to offer a discounted registration rate of £120 for Consultants. This special rate is available until 15 September, after which the standard fee of £150 will apply.
The SEPSIG run an annual SEPSIG trainee poster prize competition.
Prizes available to trainees are: a first prize of £150, a second prize of £100 and a third prize of £50.
All posters can be original research, case study, education, training, QI, audit, service evaluation or any sport and/or exercise project that trainees have been involved with.
All poster abstract submissions should follow the template outlined below:
- Aims/Background
- Methods/Case Report
- Results/Discussion
- Conclusion
Submission deadline: 23 September 2026
Please submit your abstract to sigs@rcpsych.ac.uk. The document and subject line should be titled clearly [NAME_SEPSIG Poster Prize 2026].
Once accepted, trainees should format their posters on Microsoft PowerPoint and can print them out in A3 size. Alternatively, trainees can contact their local academic/library departments to see whether they can print out their conference poster. Unfortunately, SEPSIG will not be able to reimburse any printing costs.
Posters will be displayed and judged at the SEPSIG conference on 5 October 2026.
Bookings for this event will close Monday 28 September at 10am.
We recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Please read our terms and conditions before making your booking.