On October 7, 2026, the Health Psychology Lab at the Federal University of Sergipe (GEPPS/UFS) organized “Voices in Motion,” a hybrid discussion held as part of the activities marking World Mental Health Day (WMHD, October 10). The event brought together para-athletes, a coach, and professionals from the Brazilian Paralympic Committee’s Reference Center to discuss lived experiences and mental health support in sports.
The 2026 WMHD motto — “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” — encourages the sharing of personal experiences and active participation in dialogue on mental health. GEPPS organized the initiative as a local contribution to this global mobilization.
For Maria Gilda, the event offered an opportunity to describe the personal sacrifices and emotional demands of the Paralympic journey. “We want to have our own voice, to express our hopes and our pain,” she said. Sergio Cauã also discussed the importance of psychological support in facing prejudice and bullying, reflecting on resilience: “What defines a winner isn’t how many times they fall, but how they get back up.”
Together, the athletes’ accounts and the professionals’ contributions underscored the importance of individualized support in sports. The discussion brought together perspectives on coaching, psychological care, and situations of vulnerability, with contributions from coach Nathan Santos and Reference Center professionals Denise Guimarães and Débora Gambary.
By bringing athletes’ experiences into dialogue with coaching and psychological support, “Voices in Motion” reflected the 2026 campaign’s emphasis on listening to lived experiences and recognizing the importance of mental health in sports.
Produced by COMGEPPS, the Communications Group of the Health Psychology Lab (GEPPS), Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.