{"id":1316,"date":"2026-10-14T10:52:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T10:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/?page_id=1316"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:42:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T11:42:18","slug":"abstract-submission-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/abstract-submission-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1316\" class=\"elementor elementor-1316\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4564152 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4564152\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab1d80e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ab1d80e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f36375b 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.elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;none&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 24 24&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M24,8v12H0V8H24z M24,4v1H0V4H24z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b8685e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0b8685e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05e2079 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05e2079\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The deadline for late breaker submissions is 29 January 2026<\/strong> \u2013 It is important to submit your abstract before the deadline; any abstracts received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.<\/p><p><br \/>You are invited to submit an abstract for consideration by the Scientific Programme Committee to present at the 3rd SA Mental Health Conference. The conference will take place at Durban (venue TBC), from 26 &#8211; 27 May 2026.<\/p><p><br \/>On the portal, you will be able to submit the following:<\/p><ul><li>Research-based presentations (oral or poster)<\/li><li>Best practice\/implementation presentations (oral or poster)<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Structure of the presentation type:<\/strong><br \/>Follow these structures to populate the content for your selected presentation.<\/p><ul><li>Research-based Presentations (oral or poster): Please select the poster option if you do not want to be considered for an oral presentation (Oral presentations are typically between 10 &#8211; 15 minutes).<\/li><li>Headings:<ul><li>Background &amp; Objectives<\/li><li>Methodology<\/li><li>Results<\/li><li>Conclusions<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Best Practice\/Implementation Presentations (oral or poster): Please select the poster option if you do not want to be considered for an oral presentation (Oral presentations are typically between 10 &#8211; 15 minutes).<\/li><li>\u00a0Headings:<ul><li>Background<br \/>Methodology\/Approach<br \/>Results<br \/>Lessons Learned<br \/>Recommendations<br \/>Project Scalability: To scale the described project\/activity described to a district\/regional\/national level, what are the requirements? (New or amended policies, operations, human resources, and financial implications)<br \/>Conference theme and tracks<br \/>The theme of the conference is \u201cAdvancing Mental Health Through Partnerships\u201d.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Conference theme and tracks<br \/>The theme of the conference is \u201cAdvancing Mental Health Through Partnerships\u201d.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d939cbc e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d939cbc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b4b705 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b4b705\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Abstracts will be reviewed according to the following tracks:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8da7b16 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8da7b16\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf01744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"bf01744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\r\n<style>\r\n.mhc-tracks {\r\n  width: 100%;\r\n  border-collapse: separate;\r\n  border-spacing: 0;\r\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\r\n  font-size: 15px;\r\n  line-height: 1.7;\r\n  color: #263544;\r\n  border: 1px solid #dce7ed;\r\n  border-radius: 14px;\r\n  overflow: hidden;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks th {\r\n  background: #22a9c6;\r\n  color: white;\r\n  padding: 18px 20px;\r\n  text-align: left;\r\n  font-size: 17px;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks td {\r\n  padding: 22px 20px;\r\n  vertical-align: top;\r\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #e3ebf0;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks tr:last-child td {\r\n  border-bottom: none;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks tbody tr:nth-child(even) {\r\n  background: #f4fafc;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks .track-name {\r\n  width: 29%;\r\n  color: #a41455;\r\n  font-weight: 700;\r\n  font-size: 16px;\r\n}\r\n.mhc-tracks .track-number {\r\n  display: block;\r\n  color: #159dbb;\r\n  font-size: 13px;\r\n  text-transform: uppercase;\r\n  letter-spacing: 1px;\r\n  margin-bottom: 8px;\r\n}\r\n@media (max-width: 767px) {\r\n  .mhc-tracks,\r\n  .mhc-tracks tbody,\r\n  .mhc-tracks tr,\r\n  .mhc-tracks td {\r\n    display: block;\r\n    width: 100%;\r\n  }\r\n  .mhc-tracks thead {\r\n    display: none;\r\n  }\r\n  .mhc-tracks .track-name {\r\n    width: 100%;\r\n    padding-bottom: 8px;\r\n    border-bottom: none;\r\n  }\r\n  .mhc-tracks td {\r\n    padding: 14px 18px;\r\n  }\r\n  .mhc-tracks tbody tr {\r\n    border-bottom: 2px solid #dde8ee;\r\n  }\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<table class=\"mhc-tracks\">\r\n  <thead>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th>Conference Track<\/th>\r\n      <th>Description<\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/thead>\r\n  <tbody>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td class=\"track-name\">\r\n        <span class=\"track-number\">Track 1<\/span>\r\n        Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td>\r\n        This track will encompass a broad spectrum of\r\n        topics related to the mental health among young\r\n        people (0-24 years old). This includes research\r\n        on the epidemiology of child and adolescent mental\r\n        conditions and substance use, insights into child\r\n        development, novel strategies to engage young\r\n        people, and the implementation and evaluation of\r\n        interventions in a range of different settings.\r\n        Presentations in this track could include the\r\n        development, piloting and\/or evaluation of early\r\n        identification strategies or intervention\r\n        programmes for neurocognitive problems,\r\n        behavioural and emotional conditions, self-harm\r\n        and suicidal behaviour among young people.\r\n        Work aimed at advising on the strengthening of\r\n        health systems and robust reviews of policies\r\n        related to infants, children and adolescent\r\n        mental health and parenting are welcome.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td class=\"track-name\">\r\n        <span class=\"track-number\">Track 2<\/span>\r\n        Mental health and physical well-being\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td>\r\n        This track explores the dynamic relationship\r\n        between mental and physical health, recognising\r\n        that health and illness are shaped by biological,\r\n        psychological, social, cultural, and environmental\r\n        factors. It welcomes research examining\r\n        psychological processes, health behaviours,\r\n        illness experiences, prevention, treatment,\r\n        rehabilitation, and health promotion across\r\n        diverse populations and health conditions.\r\n        Contributions may address chronic illness,\r\n        mental health, stress, wellbeing, health\r\n        communication, patient experiences, healthcare\r\n        engagement, and interventions that promote\r\n        healthier lives. The track encourages\r\n        interdisciplinary and culturally responsive\r\n        perspectives that advance understanding of\r\n        how people experience, manage, and adapt to\r\n        health and illness across the lifespan and\r\n        within diverse contexts.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td class=\"track-name\">\r\n        <span class=\"track-number\">Track 3<\/span>\r\n        Culture and community mental health\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td>\r\n        This track explores mental health within\r\n        South Africa's diverse cultural, social,\r\n        and community contexts. It examines how\r\n        culture, language, identity, inequality,\r\n        historical and contemporary social realities,\r\n        and community environments shape mental health.\r\n        Contributions may address culturally responsive\r\n        mental health services, indigenous and\r\n        community-based approaches, help-seeking,\r\n        stigma, resilience, social support, youth mental\r\n        health, and mental health inequalities.\r\n        The track welcomes research that centres\r\n        South African experiences and perspectives,\r\n        including African knowledge systems and locally\r\n        relevant approaches to prevention and\r\n        intervention. It encourages critical and\r\n        interdisciplinary perspectives that strengthen\r\n        culturally appropriate, accessible, and\r\n        community-informed mental health research\r\n        and practice.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <td class=\"track-name\">\r\n        <span class=\"track-number\">Track 4<\/span>\r\n        Emerging issues in mental health\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td>\r\n        This track explores emerging and evolving\r\n        issues shaping mental health in South Africa\r\n        and their implications for research, practice,\r\n        policy, and communities. It welcomes research\r\n        on contemporary and future mental health\r\n        challenges, including the psychological impacts\r\n        of pandemics, climate change and environmental\r\n        degradation, artificial intelligence (AI),\r\n        digital technologies, social media, and\r\n        changing social and economic contexts.\r\n        Contributions may examine youth mental health,\r\n        mental health inequalities, access to care,\r\n        disaster and trauma, resilience, digital mental\r\n        health interventions, and the ethical\r\n        opportunities and challenges presented by\r\n        technological innovation. The track encourages\r\n        forward-thinking, interdisciplinary perspectives\r\n        that strengthen responsive, equitable, ethical,\r\n        and contextually relevant mental health\r\n        research and practice.\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d2f674 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1d2f674\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-814b360 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"814b360\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Abstracts can only be submitted electronically through the 3rd SA Mental Health Conference website. Abstracts submitted to the Conference Secretariat directly through any other means will not be accepted for review.<\/li><li>A confirmation email will be sent to you automatically when you submit an abstract.<\/li><li>Please check your spam folder if you have not received confirmation that your abstract has been received.<\/li><li>All abstracts will be forwarded to the Abstract Review Committee for review. Notifications regarding status will be sent once the review process is complete.<\/li><li>Notices of acceptance or rejection of the abstract will be sent to the primary author, with reviewer comments where applicable.<\/li><li>Oral presentation \u2013 The presenting author is required to register.<\/li><li>Poster presentation \u2013 The presenting author is required to register.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Submission Specification<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Number of words not more than 300 words in total.<\/li><li>No graphic images, tables, graphs, or columns should be submitted with your abstract\/presentation.<\/li><li>Draft your abstract in text format in MS Word or a similar programme and copy and paste. Arial font size 10 is advised.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Submission Information Checklist:<\/strong><\/p><p>Abstract Details<br \/>You will be required to complete the following fields:<\/p><ul><li>Track<\/li><li>Submission type<\/li><li>Was the same or similar talk given in SA or abroad<\/li><li>Abstract title<\/li><li>Authors<\/li><li>Author&#8217;s Mobile Number<\/li><li>Short bio of presenting author<\/li><li>E-mail address for nominated author (for reader queries and correspondence)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES The deadline for late breaker submissions is 29 January 2026 \u2013 It is important to submit your abstract before the deadline; any abstracts received after the deadline will not be taken into consideration. You are invited to submit an abstract for consideration by the Scientific Programme Committee to present at the 3rd [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1316","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1316"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1328,"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1316\/revisions\/1328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mentalhealthconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}