Call for Abstracts

Theme: Reimagining Mental Health Care Access

The South African Society of Psychiatrists invites you to submit abstracts for presentation at the upcoming SASOP Congress 2025. This year’s theme, Reimagining Mental Health Care Access, challenges us to think boldly and act decisively in addressing one of the most pressing issues in mental health today: equitable, effective access to care.

We are looking for submissions that are innovative, solution-focused, and capable of shaping the future of mental health services. Whether through research, clinical innovation, systems improvement, or policy development, your work can contribute to a Congress that does more than reflect on problems—it offers direction.

  • Abstracts may align with one of our four thematic tracks:
  • Public Mental Health and Leadership
  • Lifestyle Psychiatry
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • General Psychiatry

We welcome contributions from across disciplines and sectors. Let your work be part of a conversation that redefines what’s possible for mental health care in South Africa and beyond. 

Join us in reimagining a mental health care system that works for all.

Submit Your Abstract Here

Abstract Deadlines and Guidelines

  • The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 20 June 2025. Registrars are specifically invited to submit their abstracts.
  • All eligible abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee.
  • All submissions received will be acknowledged, and authors will be sent acceptance or rejection letters by 01 August 2025.
  • Presenting authors of accepted submissions must be registered delegates. Registration for the congress must be completed by the presenting authors no later than 24 August 2025
  • Registration fees are the responsibility of the presenting authors, who are eligible for early bird rates.
  • All abstracts (oral- or poster presentation) must be submitted on-line via the website. Abstracts submitted by email will not be accepted.
  • Abstract title should not exceed 25 words
  • Author Information: Provide the full name, surname, and affiliation of all authors, listing the presenting author first. Do not include qualifications. Ensure that all authors have given permission to be listed in the abstract submission.
  • The abstract should be structured under the following sub-headings, and should not exceed 350 words.
    • Background (should be brief and informative and state the aim of the study.)
    • Methodology (include a description of sample/participants and research methodology, including statistical analysis)
    • Results (outline the findings of the study supported by statistics as appropriate. Provide relevant data aligned to the aims and conclusions. Do not use figures, graphs, or tables in the abstract. A short discussion may be added if appropriate)
    • Conclusion (provide summary and relevance of the main findings)
  • Ensure that the abstract is proof-read for spelling and grammatical errors prior to submission.
Submit Your Abstract Here

All accepted abstracts will be published without further editing. Abstracts that do not adhere to the specific format will not be published. Prizes will be awarded for the best abstract presentations at the congress dinner.