SMaRteN Conference 2026

Rethinking University Mental Health: Complexity, Culture, and Collective Responsibility
June 2026 | Abstract Submissions Now Open.

As student mental health needs grow in complexity and staff face increasing emotional demands, universities are being called to respond in more sustainable, inclusive, and joined-up ways. The 2026 SMaRteN Conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, and university decision makers to critically explore what a Whole University Approach to mental health really means—and how to make it work in practice.

We are now inviting abstract submissions that share research, practice, or lived experience insights relevant to university mental health. We encourage student co-production in as many contributions as possible.

Submissions should align with one of the following five conference themes (you may indicate a primary and secondary theme if appropriate):

  • The Complexity Challenge: Supporting students with complex and co-occurring mental health needs and the challenge of how to think, talk about and understand mental health in a university context.

  • Beyond Buzzwords: Inclusivity and Intersectionality in Practice: Moving from rhetoric to action in dismantling systemic barriers and embedding inclusive practice.

  • Bridging the Gap: Collaboration for Impact: Building stronger partnerships across research, practice, and policy to drive change and secure sustainable investment.

  • Interconnected Wellbeing: Addressing student and staff mental health together, tackling cultures of overwork, financial strain, and emotional labour.

  • Research Methodology Skills Share: Practical workshops and reflective sessions focused on improving evaluation and co-production practices.

This conference values creativity, criticality, and community. Whether you are sharing findings, innovative practices, or reflections from lived experience, we welcome your contribution.

Taking part in the conference

If you would like to present at the conference, you must submit an abstract by the 10th of October 2025.

In your submission, you can specify which theme you think your presentation aligns to and your preferred method of presentation (Lightning presentation (~5 mins), Short talk (~15 mins), workshop, discussion session, poster).

You will be contacted in February 2026 to let you know whether or not your proposal has been accepted.

Registration to attend the conference will open in September. Watch this space for confirmation of conference dates.

Presentation formats

The conference will include a range of different presentation formats. In your submission to the conference, you can specify your preferred format. We do not guarantee that this will be the format you will be offered - this will depend on the distribution of presentations across topics and formats. The conference will include the following formats:

  • Lightning talks - approximately 5 minutes long.

    Perfect for concise, high-impact sharing. This option allows you to present a key idea, headline finding, or personal reflection in a focused, accessible way. Lightning talks are ideal if you're sharing early-stage work, prompting critical questions, or highlighting a single powerful insight. The short format makes these sessions dynamic and varied, encouraging wide engagement across topics.

  • Short talks - approximately 15 minutes long.

    A good choice if you want to explain your work in a little more depth. A 15-minute slot allows you to set out your project, explain your findings or practice insight, and reflect on key implications. This is suitable for sharing research outcomes, programme evaluations, or practical case studies, while still leaving time for questions and interaction with the audience. We recommend you take no longer than 8 minutes in your presentation to leave plenty of time for questions.

  • Workshop - approximately 60 minutes.

    Ideal for those who want to teach a skill, test an approach, or create space for collaborative exploration. Workshops should be interactive and practical, designed to engage around 20 participants in discussion, activities, or hands-on learning. This format is well suited to practice-based methods, reflective exercises, or co-creation activities where attendees work together.

  • Discussion session - you will host a discussion on your topic, where the idea is that those attending the session do most of the talking.

    Choose this if you want to facilitate dialogue rather than deliver content. You will introduce your topic and frame the key questions, but the aim is for participants to drive the conversation. This is an opportunity to surface diverse perspectives, share lived experiences, and collaboratively explore challenges and opportunities in a supportive setting.

  • Poster

    Posters are ideal for informal, one-to-one or small group conversations. You’ll create a visual summary of your project, research, or insight, displayed during dedicated poster sessions. This is a flexible, low-pressure way to share your work, spark conversations, and get feedback from a broad audience in a relaxed environment.

Guidance for Writing Your Conference Abstract

Your abstract should provide a clear, accessible overview of the work you wish to share. This should be a final version of your abstract and will be shared in the conference programme if your presentation is accepted for inclusion in the programme. Please write in plain language, avoiding technical jargon where possible, so that your work can be understood by people from different backgrounds—including students, academics, and university professionals.

Abstracts should be no longer than 200 words and must include:

  • What your work is about: Summarise your project, research, practice, or lived experience insight. Be specific but clear.

  • Why your work matters: Explain why this topic is important. What problem are you addressing, or what opportunity does your work highlight?

  • How your work relates to the conference: Make clear how your submission connects to one or more of the conference themes.

  • Key message or takeaway: What do you want attendees to learn, reflect on, or apply from your work?

All submissions will be reviewed by a diverse panel of academics, student support professionals, and students. We are looking for contributions that are relevant, meaningful, and presented in an accessible, engaging way.

Please remember: your abstract doesn’t need to report ‘perfect’ findings—we welcome learning from work in progress, innovation, and experience.