Belgrade hosts international conference on mental health in sports

The ‘MindUP 2026 – Science, Performance and Wellbeing’ conference was held at the Institute for Sport and Sports Medicine of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade. Organized by the BONACA Specialist Clinic and Advertising Solutions agency, the international event brought together experts in psychiatry, psychology, sports medicine, and training processes, alongside professional athletes.

Key discussion topics included emotional control during competition, featuring insights from sports psychologist Nikola Mijušković and three-time EuroLeague champion Pero Antić. Experts also analyzed the physiological impact of continuous public pressure and high expectations on athletes, noting the direct link between psychological burden and physical performance.

Other sessions addressed the integration of mind and body, with contributions from Damjana Čabarkap and Bayern Munich sports psychologist Martin Waltz. Dr. Alexander Schorb, president of the Austrian Association for Sports Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, presented on clinical aspects of psychiatric support in elite sports. The conference also covered the psychological impact of physical injuries during rehabilitation and the medical-ethical dilemmas regarding supplementation and substance abuse.