Transplant games athletes to get psychological support for first time thanks to Glasgow Caledonian

Athletes taking part the British Transplant Games 2023 are to get psychological support for the first time in its 40-year history thanks to staff and students at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Dr Elaine Duncan and two DPsych Sport and Exercise Psychology trainees Abi Lind and Rachele Nateri have volunteered to help athletes control their emotions, focus and boost motivation during the Games in Coventry from July 27-30.

Dr Duncan, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the School of Health and Life Sciences Department of Psychology, has been attending the Games for the last decade, supporting her transplantee husband Dr David Sykes.

This year, aerosol scientist Dr Sykes, 55, who had a kidney transplant aged 26, will be competing in cycling, archery, 5km walk and javelin, and he is excited to have his wife and her students there to mentally support the athletes. More than 1,000 athletes take part each year.

Dr Sykes said: “I’m really excited to be taking part in all these sports and to have my wife Elaine coming along to support me, as she’s done for the last 10 years, but this year she is going to be giving psychological support to the transplant athletes, and bringing with her two doctoral students for the first time.

“It’s going to be a fantastic bonus for all of us, not only to help the athletes perform, but also to help them with their transplant needs, as we get limited psychological support from the NHS. It’s a difficult thing having a transplant, physically but also mentally.”

Dr Duncan, a Sport and Exercise Psychologist, counsellor and yoga teacher, is also secretary of the Glasgow Transplant Sports Team, supporting those who have had a transplant prepare and take part in the Games.

She said: “I’m attending the transplant games because I am very passionate about being involved on a personal level to support David and this year, for the first time, the athletes will be getting psychological support from us as part of the therapy team.

“As part of their clinical placement, two of our DPsych trainees are coming along to help athletes manage their anxiety, keep their goals intact, stay motivated and provide supportive post-performance debriefing.

“It can sometimes be very emotional for transplantees to take part in the Games. They can suffer from survivor guilt and feelings they are not honouring the transplant, or it could be the fact that they are at a huge event with thousands of other people, sometimes it can just be overwhelming.

“As a civic university that focuses on the common good and helping our communities, we are very proud to be part of the Games and hope that we can continue to support the athletes for many more years to come.”

Second-year student Abi said: “I’m really excited to be going to the Games to help enhance the experience of the participants and use all the skills we’ve been learning.”

Third-year student Rachelesaid: “It’s great to have the opportunity to take part in the British Transplant Games and the experience will allow me to progress with my career in sport and exercise.”

Find out more about the DPsych course at Glasgow Caledonian- https://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-sports-and-exercise-psychology-glasgow