Relive our Webinar on Mental Health in Sport for All
On 4 November 2026, TAFISA hosted its bi-monthly Mission 2030 webinar titled "Mind, Body, Movement: Mental Health in Sport for All." The session brought together experts, coaches and professionals to examine how sport and physical activity can be used as a deliberate tool to support mental health, while recognising that sporting environments can also negatively affect well-being when issues such as exclusion, bullying, performance pressure and stigma are not addressed.
The webinar was moderated by Sang Eun Lee, Founder of The Dream League. The webinar opened with an enlightening impulse presentation delivered by Dr Tshepang Tshube, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky. He explained the definition of mental health and how it relates to sport. Dr Tshube also shared sport-specific challenges, risk factors, the role of culture and context and the importance of intentionality when designing programmes.
Following the impulse presentation, the panel discussion brought together valuable insights from Cyndi Mendoza (Special Olympics International), Leonardo Calix Soares (Sesc SP), Coach Aaron Böhm and Prof. Mabliny Thuany (State University of Pará). The panellists stressed the need to go beyond simply measuring outputs and to focus instead on strengthening programmes, systems and structures to improve outcomes, ensuring that negative experiences are not repeated. They encouraged participants not to blame people for not taking part in sport, but to look for ways to include them. The panel also highlighted the importance of coaches knowing when, and to whom, to refer participants who need further support. Rather than treating wellbeing as a standalone activity, they emphasised that it should be built into everyday sport sessions. A recurring theme throughout the discussion was intentionality: for sport to have a positive impact on participants' mental health, it must be deliberately designed into the programme from the start, rather than assumed to happen as a by-product.
The webinar also featured two case study presentations. Prof. Chris Harwood (Nottingham Trent University) presented the 5Cs Framework, which supports young athletes' psychosocial development through coaching practice by focusing on five key areas: Commitment, Communication, Concentration, Control and Confidence. Chaveli De Leon (Gurls Talk) then shared the organisation's work, including the Coach In Your Corner programme, which challenges mental health stigma in sport and equips coaches to support girls' mental health.
Participants had the opportunity to contribute to the webinar via Mentimeter and also ask the panellists questions.
