Supporting People in Distress: Critical Perspectives on Safe Places & Spaces

First Conference Announcement and Call for Abstracts

Supporting People in Distress: Critical Perspectives on Safe Places & Spaces

14 and 15 November 2025

School of Applied Social Studies

Institute for Social Science in the 21st Century

University College Cork, Ireland

and

Critical Voices Network Ireland

Over the last 16 years this conference has covered many concerns around mental health systems, practices and provisions. One of these concerns centre around the lack of availability of safe spaces and places for people experiencing intense distress, a theme specifically addressed at the 2021 (online) conference. We have heard and learned from different ways/approaches, outside of the traditional hospital and community-based systems, of supporting people in distress, such as crisis houses and therapeutic farms. Sadly, locating safe spaces and places for people experiencing severe distress and crisis remains difficult. Following on from last year’s conference on iatrogenic harm we are acutely aware that we need to turn ‘first do good’ into practice.

Therefore, this year’s conference aims to explore and discuss:

• What constitutes a safe place/space in mental health practices?
• Why is it so difficult to develop and sustain safe places/spaces?
• Are there examples of good practices from various jurisdictions providing safe places and spaces?

We hope that this conference will bring together people with experience and interest in developing safe spaces projects in Ireland.

Keynote Speakers confirmed to date (in alphabetical order):

• Ciara Glynn, Manager at Solace Café, former peer support worker, passionate activist, Dublin.

• Eamonn Flynn, Dad, music mental health activist. Looking for humane ways to help people in crisis and their families, London.

• Jess Angland, CEO, Slí Eile Support Services, Community based Care Farm, Bakery and Supported living in North Cork.
• ‘New Script for Mental Health’ campaign Activists, Belfast.
• Sinead Pierce, Peer Support Worker, HSE & Lived Experience Informed Educator, University College Cork, Cork.
• Speak Out! Theatre for Transformation, Creativity and Change project, Munster Technological University, Cork.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

(oral presentations/workshops) of 45 minutes’ duration related to the conference theme and outlining its aims and intentions. Please email your abstract (in Word- 250 words max) and a brief bio (in Word - 150 words max) to l.sapouna@ucc.ie by 22 September 2025. Inquiries to h.gijbels@ucc.ie or l.sapouna@ucc.ie. Registration details will be circulated in late September 2025.

The Conference organisers are Lydia Sapouna, School of Applied Social Studies and Harry Gijbels (retired), School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland.

ZOOM

This event will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.

SELF-SELECT FEE

In line with the Conference ethos since its inception in 2009, this is a free conference. We do however rely on donations to cover costs, so the minimum donation is set at £1.

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If you are not a member of a professional organisation, we ask that you participate in a way that is both authentic and respectful, fostering a space of mutual learning and professional engagement.

By registering for this event, you agree to be present and interact in a manner that reflects these principles.