Paul Gorczynski

Dr Paul Gorczynski PhD, HCPC, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Senior Lecturer

I joined the School of Human Sciences in January 2022. I mainly lecture in the areas of sport and exercise psychology and mental health. I am a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. I have consulted for several national and international sporting organizations (e.g., British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences; International Olympic Committee) and governments (Women and Equalities Committee, UK Parliament, LGBTQ+ mental health service use; Ministry of Sports, Republic of Colombia, mental health literacy). I have also developed and delivered training programmes on mental health literacy; stigma and mental health; cultural competence; and equity, diversity, and inclusion within elite sport. My research mainly focuses on the development and implementation of mental health literacy strategies within sport, education, and clinical practice.

Posts held previously:

2014-2022: University of Portsmouth, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology
2012-2014: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Responsibilities within the university

I am a senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology within the School of Human Sciences.

Recognition

  • External Examiner
    -Wymouth College, FdSc Sport; Coaching, Health and Fitness
  • External Committees
    -Increasing Physical Activity in Medium Secure Services (IMPACT) Steering Group
  • Editorial
    -Editorial Advisory Board: The Sport and Exercise Scientist
    -Editorial Board Member: Sport Social Work Journal
    -Editorial Board Member: Psychology of Sport and Exercise
    -Editorial Board Member: Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health
  • Professional Body/Membership
    -Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol): British Psychological Society
    -Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)
    -HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist (Sport and Exercise)
    -British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
  • Board Membership
    -NHS Health Research Authority, London-Bloomsbury, Chair

Research / Scholarly interests

My research mainly focuses on the development and implementation of mental health literacy strategies within sport, education, and clinical practice.

Key funded projects

I am a co-investigator on a Health Foundation project (Economies for Healthier Lives fund). The project is led by Havant Borough Council with support from the University of Portsmouth.

Recent publications

Article

Gorczynski, Paul and , Baron, David (2024), Designing and delivering mental health literacy strategies in elite sport. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, World Psychiatry, 23 (1) . pp. 21-171 ISSN: 1723-8617 (Print), 2051-5545 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21180) NB Item availability restricted.

Carter, Tori , Gorczynski, Paul, Coady, Christopher, Cunningham, Ian , Mascarenhas, Duncan , Sullivan, Philip , Webb, Tom , Livingston, Lori , Hancock, David (2023), A lack of empirical evidence on sport officials’ mental health: a scoping review. Scapps. In: , , , Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport. Scapps, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 54 (1) (doi: https://scapps.org/jems/index.php/1/article/view/3029).

Gorczynski, Paul , Moore, Matt, Miller Aron, Cindy, Bennett, Payton (2023), Interprofessional collaboration in college athlete mental health care: addressing the need for a competency-based framework of integrated care. Scapps. In: , , , Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport. Scapps, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 54 (1) (doi: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/44962/1/3046).

Gorczynski, Paul , Oftadeh-Moghadam, Shakiba, Weston, Neil (2023), Developing mental health literacy interventions in sport settings: The need for feasibility studies. Scapps. In: , , , Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport. Scapps, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 54 (1) (doi: https://scapps.org/jems/index.php/1/article/view/3045).

Gorczynski, Paul , Miller Aron, Cindy, Moore, Matt, Reardon, Claudia L. (2023), The epidemiology of mental health symptoms and disorders among elite athletes and the evolution of mental health literacy. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Clinics in sports medicine, 43 (1) . pp. 1-11 ISSN: 0278-5919 (Print), 1556-228X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.001) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul and , Oftadeh-Moghadam, Shakiba (2023), Designing culturally competent demographic questionnaires for mental health literacy research in semi-elite women’s rugby. Hogrefe. In: , , , Sports Psychiatry. Hogrefe, Sports Psychiatry - Journal of Sports and Exercise Psychiatry, 2 (3) . pp. 103-104 2674-0052 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000051).

Reardon, Claudia L , Gorczynski, Paul, Hainline, Brian, Rice, Simon (2023), Anxiety disorders in athletes. Elsevier - SAUNDERS. In: , , , . Elsevier - SAUNDERS, Clinics in sports medicine ISSN: 0278-5919 (Print), 1556-228X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.002) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Queering the curriculum. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). In: , , , . The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 76 . pp. 28-29 ISSN: 1754-3452 (Print), 1754-3444 (Online) (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Oftadeh-Moghadam, Shakiba , Weston, Neil, Gorczynski, Paul (2023), Mental health literacy intervention to reduce stigma toward mental health symptoms and disorders in women rugby players: a feasibility study. Human Kinetics. In: , , , . Human Kinetics, The Sport Psychologist, 37 (2) . pp. 119-127 ISSN: 0888-4781 (Print), 1543-2793 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2022-0142).

Moore, Matt , Gorczynski, Paul, Aron, Cindy, Bennett, Payton (2022), Leaving professional competition on the field: professional collaboration in promoting college athlete mental health. Frontiers Media. In: , , , . Frontiers Media, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13: 1079057 . pp. 1-5 1664-0640 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1079057).

Gorczynski, Paul and , Webb, Tom (2022), Evaluating the public's perceptions of football referees living with mental health symptoms and disorders. Scapps. In: , , , Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport. Scapps, Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 53 (1) (doi: https://scapps.org/jems/index.php/1/article/view/2790).

Myall, Kearnan , Montero-Marin, Jesus, Gorczynski, Paul, Kajee, Nabeela , Syed Sheriff, Rebecca , Bernard, Robert , Harriss, Elinor , Kuyken, Willem (2022), Effect of mindfulness-based programmes on elite athlete mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. In: , , , . BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57 (2) . pp. 99-108 ISSN: 0306-3674 (Print), 1473-0480 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105596).

Smith, Caroline N. , Gorczynski, Paul, Thomas, Jafrā D. (2022), The ever-evolving nature of health literacy in organizations: a commentary on the 2021 JPHMP article: “Updating Health Literacy for Healthy People 2030”. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. In: , , , . Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, 28 (6) . pp. E804-E807 ISSN: 1078-4659 (Print), 1550-5022 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000001589).

Moore, Matt , Gorczynski, Paul, Miller Aron, Cindy (2022), Mental health literacy in sport: the role of the social work profession. Oxford University Press. In: , , , . Oxford University Press, Social Work, 67 (3) . pp. 298-300 ISSN: 0037-8046 (Print), 1545-6846 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swac022) NB Item availability restricted.

Moghadam, Shakiba and , Gorczynski, Paul (2022), A systematic review of the prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in rugby players. Human Kinetics. In: , , , . Human Kinetics, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ISSN: 1932-9261 (Print), 1932-927X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2021-0027).

Smith, Caroline N. , Gorczynski, Paul, Thomas, Jafrā D. (2022), Equity in communication: a policy template for promoting organizational health literacy. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. In: , , , . Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, JPHMP Direct - Journal of Public Health Management & Practice ISSN: 1078-4659 (Print), 1550-5022 (Online) (doi: https://jphmpdirect.com/2022/05/30/equity-in-communication-a-policy-template-for-promoting-organizational-health-literacy/).

Gorczynski, Paul and , Fraser, Kotryna (2022), Beijing 2022: one step closer towards more inclusive Games. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. In: , , , . The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The Sport and Exercise Scientist ISSN: 1754-3452 (Print), (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul and , Sims-Schouten, Wendy (2022), Evaluating mental health literacy amongst US college students: a cross sectional study. Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, Journal of American College Health ISSN: 0744-8481 (Print), 1940-3208 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2063690).

Moghadam, Shakiba Oftadeh and , Gorczynski, Paul (2022), Mental health literacy, help-seeking, and mental health outcomes in women rugby players. Human Kinetics. In: , , , . Human Kinetics, Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 30 (1) . pp. 1-10 ISSN: 1063-6161 (Print), 1938-1581 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2020-0066).

Rossato, Claire , Crampton, Simon, Gorczynski, Paul, Green, Kate , Hill, Denise (2022), Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR) Accreditation of Prior Experiential Competence (APEC) reflections. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. In: , , , . The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 71 . pp. 12-13 ISSN: 1754-3452 (Print), (doi: https://www.bases.org.uk/sspage-resources-the_sport_and_exercise_scientist-view_tses_articles.html).

Massey, Heather , Gorczynski, Paul, Harper, C Mark, Sansom, Lisa , McEwan, Kieran , Yankouskaya, Alla , Denton, Hannah (2022), Perceived impact of outdoor swimming on health: web-based survey. JMIR Publications. In: , , , . JMIR Publications, Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 11: e25589 (1) . pp. 1-15 1929-073X (Online) (doi: https://www.i-jmr.org/2022/1/e25589).

Gorczynski, Paul and , Thelwell, Richard (2022), Examining mental health literacy, depressive symptoms, help seeking behaviors, and wellbeing in soccer match officials in the UK. Edizioni Luigi Pozzi, Roma, Italy. In: , , , . Edizioni Luigi Pozzi, Roma, Italy, International Journal of Sport Psychology, 53 (1) . pp. 21-35 ISSN: 0047-0767 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.7352/IJSP.2022.53.025) NB Item availability restricted.

Wijaya Mulya, Teguh , Salvi, Francesca, Gorczynski, Paul, Wells-Brown, Tanya , Sims-Schouten, Wendy (2022), The state and my happiness: youth mental health, citizenship education, and discursive contestations in contemporary Indonesia. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Children and Society, 36 (1) . pp. 21-35 ISSN: 0951-0605 (Print), 1099-0860 (Online) (doi: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/chso.12481).

Moss, Rachel , Gorczynski, Paul, Sims-Schouten, Wendy, Heard-Laureote, Karen , Creaton, Jane (2021), Mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate researchers: exploring the relationship between mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviour, psychological distress, and wellbeing. Routledge / Taylor & Francis - Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia. In: , , , . Routledge / Taylor & Francis - Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Higher Education Research & Development, 41 (4) . pp. 1168-1183 ISSN: 0729-4360 (Print), 1469-8366 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1906210).

Gorczynski, Paul and , Webb, Tom (2020), Call-to-action: the need for a mental health research agenda for sports match officials. Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge, Managing Sport and Leisure, 27 (4) . pp. 21-420 ISSN: 2375-0472 (Print), 2375-0480 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1792803).

Audio

Charlton, David and , Gorczynski, Paul (2023), How to develop and implement mental health literacy strategies. Inspiring Sporting Excellence. In: , , , . Inspiring Sporting Excellence, (1st) (doi: https://www.sport-excellence.co.uk/mental-health-literacy/).

Book section

Gorczynski, Paul , Miller Aron, Cindy, Reardon, Claudia L (2025), Psychosocial aspects of mental health in sport. Human Kinetics. In: , , In: L Davis, R Keegan, S Jowett (eds.), Social Psychology in sport. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL (2nd) . pp. 241-250 . ISBN: 9781718201811 (doi: https://us.humankinetics.com/products/social-psychology-in-sport-2nd-edition#tab-tableofcontents) NB Item availability restricted.

McEwan, Kieren , Weston, Neil, Gorczynski, Paul (2024), Evaluating competitiveness as a personality trait among a sample of mountain bikers. Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge. In: , , In: Jim Cherrington (ed.), Mountain biking, culture and society. Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge, London , 2 (1st) . pp. 21-48 . ISBN: 9781003361626; 9781032421919 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003361626) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul and , McCabe, T. (2024), Suicide in elite sport. Elsevier. In: , , In: D. Prabhakar (ed.), Advances in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health 4.1. Elsevier, (Advances in psychiatry and behavioral health 4.1) (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul , Miller Aron, Cindy, Reardon, Claudia L. (2024), Loneliness and emotional blunting in elite sport. Elsevier. In: , , In: D. Prabhakar (ed.), Advances in psychiatry and behavioral health 4.1. Elsevier, (Advances in psychiatry and behavioral health 4.1) (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul , Reardon, Claudia L., Miller Aron, Cindy (2023), Mental health in golf. Routledge. In: , , In: Denise Hill, Jamie Barker, Karl Steptoe (eds.), The Psychology of Golf Performance under Pressure. Routledge, New York (1st) . pp. 1-12 . ISBN: 9781003299042 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003299042).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2022), Major depressive disorder and depressive symptoms. Springer. In: , , In: Claudia L. Reardon (ed.), Mental health care for elite athletes. Springer, Cham, Switzerland (1st) . pp. 51-59 . ISBN: 9783031083631; 9783031083648 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08364-8_6) NB Item availability restricted.

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2022), Behaviour change in exercise referral. Routledge. In: , , In: Andrew Scott, David Broom (eds.), Exercise management for referred medical conditions. Routledge, London (1st) . pp. 97-111 . ISBN: 9781315102399 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315102399).

Scott, Andrew , Gorczynski, Paul, Broom, David (2022), Introduction. Routledge. In: , , In: Andrew Scott, David Broom (eds.), Exercise management for referred medical conditions. Routledge, London (1st) . pp. 1-8 . ISBN: 9781315102399 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315102399).

Gorczynski, Paul , Reardon, Claudia L, Miller Aron, Cindy (2022), LGBTQ+ mental health in elite sport: A review. Elsevier. In: , , In: Deepak Prabhakar (ed.), Advances in psychiatry and behavioral health 2.1. Elsevier, (1st) (doi: ).

Conference item

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Mental health literacy in elite sport: developing inclusive research and services - Guest lecture. In: BASC0015: Psychology in the Real World, 28th November 2023, London , . , (doi: ).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Leaving professional competition on the field: professional collaboration in promoting elite athlete mental health - public lecture. In: Leaving Professional Competition on the Field: Professional Collaboration in Promoting Elite Athlete Mental Health, 9th Nov 2023, Oxford, Ohio , . , (doi: ).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Exploring the intersection: addressing violence against the LGBTQ+ community. In: Exploring the Intersection: Addressing Violence Against the LGBTQ+ Community, 7th - 9th November 2023, Miami University , . , (doi: ).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Exploring LGBTQIA+ mental health in elite sport. In: Exploring LGBTQIA+ mental health in elite sport, , University of Greenwich - MemorialUniversity , . , (doi: ).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2023), Creating 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity in physical activity, exercise, and sport research, teaching, and practice. In: Creating 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity in physical activity, exercise, and sport research, teaching, and practice, 12th October 2023, Kingston, ON , . , (doi: ).

Conference proceedings

Gorczynski, Paul and , Webb, Tom (2022), Evaluating the public’s perceptions of football players living with mental health symptoms and disorders. Hogrefe OpenMind. In: , , , Sports Psychiatry. Hogrefe OpenMind, Göttingen; Bern; Boston Sport psychiatry, 1 (3) (1st) . pp. 128-128 ISSN: 2674-0052 (Print), 2674-0052 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000024).

Monograph

Gorczynski, Paul and , Fasoli, Fabio (2023), Understanding the mental health literacy and service needs of men. Health and Social Care Committee, Commons Select Committee, UK Parliament. In: , , , . Health and Social Care Committee, Commons Select Committee, UK Parliament, London Men's Health Inquiry, Health and Social Care Committee, UK Parliament (1st) (doi: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/123879/html/).

Howard, Katie , Julie, Udell, Kaklamanou, Daphne, Gorczynski, Paul , Popa, Ruxandra (2022), Economies for healthier lives: link up Leigh Park setting the scene report. Health Foundation. In: , , , . Health Foundation, London (1st) (doi: ).

Other

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2022), Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). In: , , , . The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), Leeds The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (doi: https://www.bases.org.uk/article-mental_health_awareness_week_2022.html?msclkid=40347696d07211ec865d2a5c5879d44d).

Gorczynski, Paul and , (2022), LGBTQI + mental health during the pandemic. Inspire the Mind - Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology (SPI) Lab at the IoPPN. In: , , , . Inspire the Mind - Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology (SPI) Lab at the IoPPN, London Inspire the mind (1st) (doi: https://www.inspirethemind.org/blog/lgbtqi-mental-health-during-the-pandemic).