Scientific Programme
Industry Partner Programme
PS-PL01 - Mental health perspectives from the general population to elite level sport
Date: 03.07.2024, Time: 17:45 - 19:00, Lecture room: Clyde Auditorium
Description
In recent years there has been growth in the evidence supporting the benefits of physical activity for the prevention of mental illness in the general population. There has also been increased recognition of the mental health challenges elite athletes face and how best to support them. In this plenary two leading researchers in the area will present the most up to date evidence. Associate Professor Matthew P. Herring, FACSM from the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at University of Limerick, Ireland (H-index = 43; representing Psychology, Social Science & Humanities) is a leading exercise psychologist whose research has provided a better understanding of how, why and in whom physical activity and exercise improve mental health, informing international guidelines. Matthew will present the case for the value of physical activity to protect against mental illness among adolescents, adults, and older adults, targeted exercise training, including comparatively understudied muscle-strengthening exercise, as an alternative or augmentation therapy for mental illness, and psychobiological factors which might influence these relationships. Professor Vincent Gouttebarge is a former professional footballer and currently Extraordinary Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Pretoria and based at the Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine department of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers. He is also Chief Medical Officer at FIFPRO (Football Players Worldwide) an
Chair(s)
Joan Duda
University of Birmingham, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
United Kingdom
Hayley McEwan
University of the West of Scotland, Sport
United Kingdom
Speaker A
Matthew Herring
Uni of Limerick (Visiting Affiliations Trinity College Dublin & Uni of Wisconsin, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre
Ireland
Read CVECSS Glasgow 2024: PS-PL01
Physical Activity and Exercise for Mental Health: How, Why, and In Whom?
Physical inactivity and mental illness are longstanding, interrelated global pandemics. Substantial evidence supports the prophylactic effects of regular physical activity and the efficacy of exercise for mental health, particularly anxiety and depression, across the lifespan in the general population. However, how, why, and in whom physical activity and exercise protect and improve mental health are less well known. Recent reviews from the World Health Organization Guidelines Development Group (DiPietro et al., 2021) revealed that knowledge on optimal/minimal physical activity dose has remained limited. Moreover, investigations of modifiable sources of variability in the physical activity—mental health relationship, which could prime or enhance implementation and benefits, are limited. For example, evidence of the efficacy of understudied exercise modes, including muscle-strengthening exercise, is comparatively scarce. To this end, Dr. Herring will discuss the protective associations of physical activity, including doses lower than those recommended for overall health, for mental health, effects of diverse modes of acute exercise and exercise training, particularly resistance exercise training, on mental health, and biopsychosocial factors that may predict/influence benefits of physical activity and exercise for mental health.
Speaker B
Vincent Gouttebarge
Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Netherlands
Read CVECSS Glasgow 2024: PS-PL01
Elite athletes are humans first: their mental health challenges.
Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes, may be induced by sport-related or environmental factors, and may impair performance. In June 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published its first consensus statement on mental health in elite athletes and created its Mental Health Working Group. These initiatives have been the foundation for prevention strategies that mitigate mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. Prevention strategies include primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. This presentation touches the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite sport, describes their contributing factors, stresses the importance of the prevention of mental health symptoms in athletes and introduces the various initiatives from the IOC Mental Health Working Group.