Ben Walker, a doctoral researcher within the PHC, presented two research projects titled: “Exploring UK para-athletes’ perceptions of mental health, well-being and associated support services” and “Elite UK Paralympic Athlete Mental Health: Exploring the views of sporting stakeholders”. Ben’s research studies both contribute to part of his PhD in collaboration with the UK Sport Institute.
We caught up with Ben after the conference:
“What an amazing experience attending the recent European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology alongside Peter Harrison Centre colleagues! Over five fantastic days of workshops, seminars, and networking events, I was invited to present two posters relating to my area of study and this was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work that I’m doing relating to mental health in Paralympic sport, supported by the PHC, to researchers and practitioners from around the world.”
Alongside Ben, Dr Jamie Barker from the PHC also had three successful presentations, sharing his research into Clean Sport in International Cerebral Palsy Football (in collaboration with Dr Carolyn Plateau, Ellie-May Storr, WADA and The International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football), Help-Seeking Behaviours in Track and Field Athletes (in collaboration with Thomas Miller and Dr Carolyn Plateau) and Experiences and influences of wellbeing amongst elite UK para-athletes (in collaboration with Dr Carolyn Plateau and Brodie Miller).
Ben and Jamie’s efforts at FEPSAC demonstrate the importance of psychological research in para-sport and it’s fantastic to see the continuation of Peter Harrison Centre impact on the international stage. Great work Jamie, Ben and all of our members involved with the presented research!