Program
Click here to view the conference program overview and explore what’s ahead.
Presentation guidelines for BIBF 2026
This guidance, developed by the conference’s Youth Advisory Board, aims to ensure that all sessions maintain strong academic rigor while also being accessible, engaging, and meaningful for young people and students in attendance.
Presenters are encouraged to use clear, inclusive language and to minimize jargon so their content can be easily understood by youth audiences. By striking a balance between scholarly depth and audience accessibility, presenters can create impactful sessions that resonate with both academic and youth delegates.
General guidelines (all presentations)
1. Where appropriate, presenters are encouraged to acknowledge youth perspectives and participation.
For example, if your research involved young people, briefly explain how their input informed the study’s design, influenced the methodology, or shaped the findings. Highlighting their contributions not only strengthens the credibility of your work but also demonstrates respect for youth voice and engagement.
*90% of our registered audience are researchers and practitioners. However, there will also be youth and students present. Please only use jargon when needed.
2. Highlight impact by framing findings around:
- Why does this matter for children and adolescents specifically?
- How does this respond to the needs and realities of children and adolescents?
- How will this improve outcomes for children and adolescents?
Oral presentation guidelines
Format and timing
- Each oral presenter has 8-10 minutes to present in their assigned session.
- Sessions will be communicated with presenters via email. You can also navigate sessions using our program link above.
Content
- Define key terms early in your presentation before diving deeper.
- Limit the amount of text on each slide and whenever possible, replace dense explanations with charts, quotes or images that illustrate the concept.
- If a technical term is essential to your presentation, explain it using a brief, relatable analogy to support understanding. For example, when using the term “neuroplasticity”: “Think of neuroplasticity like a hiking trail — the more a child practices a coping skill, the clearer and easier that path becomes.”
- Avoid using acronyms unless they are absolutely necessary; where they must be used, ensure they are clearly explained the first time they appear.
- End with clear takeaways, for instance, a type of synopsis that covers why the research was conducted and the results.
Poster presentation guidelines
Format and logistics
- The poster boards are 90 cm x 120 cm (width x height) or size A0.
- Posters will be displayed on both 19 and 20 May in the Verve. Please plan to put up your poster on the morning of 19 May.
- The poster boards will be marked with poster IDs. Individual presenters will receive their poster IDs via email.
- Double-sided tape will be provided and volunteers will be available to assist.
Tips for your poster
- Titles should be visible from 2-4 meters away. Font size should be at least 18 pt with 1.5 spacing.
- Use plain-language titles and headings so viewers can grasp the topic at a glance.
- Include a glossary/definitions box that explains technical terms simply.
- Have a logical flow. Organise sections left-to-right or top-to-bottom for easy navigation.
- Use graphs, infographics and icons to clarify and not clutter the message.
- Highlight key findings by using bold type or colour to draw attention.
- Use the 60/40 rule: 60% visuals and/or white space / 40% text.
- Include a short “Why This Matters for Young People” box within your presentation. This should be a simple 2–3 sentence section, written in clear and accessible language, explaining the relevance of your topic for children, adolescents and young people.
- If someone can understand your main point in under 10 minutes alongside verbal explanation and in under 30 seconds at a glance, your poster is working.
What to expect
The program for BIBF 2026 will feature keynotes, parallel sessions, and poster sessions, with interactive sessions to generate contributions from youth mental health innovators.
All activities will be in-person; an online repository of resources and learning materials will be made available after the conference ends. We also aim to hold 1-2 post-conference learning sessions virtually to enable participants who were unable to travel/attend to participate.
Who will attend?
We anticipate the event will appeal to a target audience of researchers, advocates and actors in health, social services, child protection, education, human rights as well as representatives from governmental agencies, private sector, policy making and humanitarian organizations.
BIBF2026 aims to enhance equity and diversity through adopting an inclusive attitude which welcomes all, irrespective of race, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or other characteristics, and which provides a platform for open dialogue and candid learning.
Pre-Conference Day (18 May)
Delegates are welcome to sign up for any of the below pre-conference sessions on 18 May, at no additional charge. Please contact us for more information: boldideas@sun.ac.za
Care for Carers - A Global Priority (9:00am-12:00pm)
Co-led by: Grassroot Soccer (South Africa), SAPPIN (South Africa) & The Two Lillies Fund (global)
Trained mental health professionals, community based mental health frontline workers and lay providers / community development workers mental health play a critical role in the sustainability and success of mental health programmes. As the global mental health shifts toward task-shifting and task-sharing, the global mental health workforce has expanded to include youth and adult lay-providers, trained mental health professionals, parenting programme implementers and many others. Frontline worker self-care and well-being support needs have emerged as a priority in global mental health. Grassroot Soccer, SAPPIN, the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network and The Two Lillies Fund present an interactive and innovative pre-conference session on ‘caring for the carers.’ This pre-conference session aims to leverage arts based, sports-based, play & somatic methods, qualitative and quantitative insights panel discussions and Open Space Technology to explore frontline provider’s mental health needs as well as explore innovative support models such as reflective supervision within community-based programme delivery.
Sign up here.
Show me the money: how to build a fundable grant application (10:00-11:30am)
Led by: Wellcome Trust (UK)
This 90‑minute workshop is designed for early career researchers preparing to apply for funding and looking for clear, practical guidance to strengthen their proposals. The session will introduce the core elements of a grant application, including how to craft a concise and clear proposal, what funders look for, and how to meaningfully integrate lived experience into research design and delivery. Participants will also learn the essentials of building a realistic and defensible budget.
To bring the process to life, the session includes a short panel discussion with researchers previously/currently funded by Wellcome, offering first‑hand insights and answering audience questions. We’ll close with an interactive session exploring what kinds of support early career applicants most need from funders going forward, creating space for honest reflection and constructive ideas. Whether you’re preparing your first application or refining your approach, this workshop offers practical tools and insights to help you navigate the funding landscape with confidence.
ADHD in young adults: navigating transitions (10:15-11:15am)
Sponsored by: Takeda Pharmaceutical Pty.
You are invited to join a pre-congress educational neuroscience session on Monday, 18 May 2026 (10:15–11:15) – “ADHD in young adults: navigating transitions”, presented by Professor Renata Schoeman, a South African psychiatrist in private practice and international recognised ADHD expert. Young adulthood is a high-impact transition—where academic pressure, early-career demands, changing support systems, and increasing independence can bring ADHD-related impairment into sharper focus. This session will examine how ADHD may present in adolescence and beyond, why it is frequently under-recognised at this life stage, and what evidence-informed approaches can support better functional outcomes in real-world settings.
The programme includes a brief welcome, Professor Schoeman’s presentation, and an interactive Q&A—creating space for practical discussion grounded in day-to-day clinical and community experience. Sponsorship for this session is provided by Takeda. (C-APROM/ZA/Vyv/0087 – March 2026).
Sign up here.
Sports for good: Why youth-led physical activity is the ultimate mental health hack
(12:30pm-3:30pm)
Co-led by: Johns Hopkins University (US), Positive Running (India), SeriousFun Children's Network (South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, US)
What happens when young people take the lead in mixing fun physical activity and mental wellness? Magic. Discover the global movement of youth-led sporting programs and fun camps that are busting stress and building community. This high-energy session brings together lived experience and expert research to share practical strategies for embedding mental health outcomes into community health and wellness programs.
What you’ll walk away with:
- The science of sweat: a deep dive into the latest research on how running, fun camps, and team sports rebuild resilience and mental health.
- The youth playbook: real-world insights from youth leaders on how physical activity reshapes identity, crushes stigma, strengthens resilience, and builds social connection.
- Global case studies: a front-row seat to successful models like Positive Running, Camp Rainbow, Pedal for Good, and Generation Pep and others.
- The integration toolkit: practical strategies to review these programs and plug them into existing healthcare and community services.
Sign up here.
Special session: Extending our understanding of adolescent mental health at population level
One of the greatest barriers to effective programming is the limited data on the global burden of mental health challenges among adolescents and young people, especially targeted populations of adolescents. Prevalence data, together with data documenting and evaluating the range of risk and protective factors, are critical for advancing priorities to support better mental health at this pivotal life stage. These data can inform the design and implementation of programs and policies, as well as help experts make decisions about resource allocation. In an increasingly uncertain global moment—and as funding to solve complex problems is diminishing—such data on the mental health of adolescents is vital.
We will share research from several specially-funded applications in a special session that aims to capture case examples of using population-level data to extend our understanding of adolescent and youth mental health. Specifically, the session will focus on uses of the Measurement of Mental Health Among Adolescents and Young People at Population Level (MMAPP) tool, which is part of a UNICEF-led effort to close the data gap in this critical age group. MMAPP uses culturally adaptable and clinically validated data collection tools and resources. The MMAPP tool, developed with support from global experts, has been built on a strong evidence base. Its development followed a rigorous, iterative process involving expert consultations, cognitive interviews, and field validation across diverse settings including validated in Belize, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Indicators include symptoms of depression and anxiety; functional limitations due to mental health symptoms; suicidal thoughts and behaviors; and mental health care and connectedness.
A selection of studies will report on prevalence data, including in marginalised populations. Additionally, we aim to discuss key gaps, opportunities, and priorities for future measurement of adolescent mental health.
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