Role of exercise physiologists in mental health support and recovery: 2026 Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Consensus Statement

Exercise physiologists (EPs) are increasingly recognised for their role in supporting people with lived experience of mental health challenges through structured, evidence-based exercise interventions. Despite strong evidence for their impact on health outcomes, routine integration of EPs into mental health systems remains limited. This Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)-endorsed Consensus Statement aims to define the scope, best-practice principles and integration strategies for EPs working across diverse mental health settings. Methods for development of this Consensus Statement involved formation of a multidisciplinary Advisory Group, a targeted review of literature (2016-2025), a four-step Delphi process and national endorsement by ESSA. 24 experts participated in the consensus process, supported by an Advisory Group of 14 members representing 6 Australian states and territories. Final consensus (≥80% agreement) was achieved across 12 key items. The process identified six interrelated best-practice principles: person-centred, strength-based, recovery-oriented, culturally responsive, mental health and trauma-informed, and behaviour-change strategies, all underpinned by evidence-based care. The resulting scope of practice outlines EP roles across the healthcare journey; from referral and assessment to intervention, review and discharge, and defines professional, leadership and advocacy responsibilities beyond direct care. Integration strategies emphasise collaboration, capacity building and alignment with multidisciplinary mental health models. This Consensus Statement provides structured guidance for workforce development, service planning and policy reform, strengthening the role of exercise professionals in mental healthcare. Clinical exercise professionals internationally can draw on these outcomes as a scalable model for integration into multidisciplinary mental health teams.