PsyCare Ireland, in collaboration with Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), delivered a free, full-day workshop as part of its NITE programme (Nightlife Intervention and Training for Empowerment). Held at the Youth Centre Hall in Bray on 22nd October, the workshop equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills to support people experiencing challenging situations in nightlife settings.
The workshop focused on mental health awareness, substance use, harm reduction and how to respond safely and compassionately when someone is experiencing a difficult or overwhelming situation during a night out.
Participants explored how to recognise when someone may be struggling, whether due to substance use, anxiety, panic or emotional distress, and how to provide appropriate support. The training emphasised the importance of remaining calm, responding without judgement and understanding when additional help may be required.
NITE aims to empower people with the confidence and practical skills to look out for one another and contribute to safer, more supportive nightlife environments. By providing accessible, practical training, the programme encourages a culture of care, awareness and collective responsibility.
A key message of the workshop was that knowing how to respond when something goes wrong can make a meaningful difference. Whether supporting a friend or assisting someone in distress, a compassionate, informed response can help reduce harm and ensure people feel supported when they need it most.
Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O’Gorman noted: “By supporting practical training of this kind, we are helping to build safer communities, strengthen local resilience and promote a culture where wellbeing and public safety are shared responsibilities.”
Cllr Tom Fortune, Chair of Local Community Safety Partnership added, “Initiatives such as NITE demonstrate the value of partnership and community-based education in addressing the challenges that can arise in nightlife settings. By equipping people with these skills, we hope to empower communities to look out for one another, reduce harm and ensure that nobody has to face a difficult experience alone.”
Through initiatives such as NITE (Nightlife Intervention and Training for Empowerment), PsyCare Ireland promotes harm reduction, mental health awareness, and peer support to help create safer, more supportive nightlife environments. An award-winning Irish social enterprise and registered charity, PsyCare Ireland won the 2026 National Social Enterprise Awards in the Mental Health and Wellbeing category. The organisation provides welfare and harm reduction support at music events and festivals, alongside harm reduction and safety education programmes across Ireland.