By their very nature, architects are problem solvers. They aspire to take a client’s idea and turn it into an incredible design and space for their users.
However, they frequently encounter challenges such as site restrictions or budget constraints, which are also
prevalent in mental health design.
Additionally, these often-complex environments may face further obstacles, including the need to ensure the safety of service users, which can foster a risk-averse mindset and atmosphere.
One of the key considerations to designing any mental health scheme should be engagement – engagement with service users, their families, clinical staff, facility managers and estates teams.
By their very nature, architects are problem solvers
Engagement needs to be consistent, well planned, and undertaken at all stages for any element of the design – whether that is individual elements such as doors or furniture, to departmental layouts and room adjacencies.
According to the mental health charity, Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health challenge each year. It is these people with valuable lived experience who can provide crucial insight into design that may be overlooked or misunderstood by designers who don’t have the same experiences.
An excellent example of successful engagement is the design for Kingfisher Court, which emerged from over 2000 hours of co-production, including workshops and exemplar visits, culminating in a sleepover for representative consultees to experience the space.
At the Design in Mental Health Conference in 2023, P+HS ran a workshop titled Person Centred Care, exploring a service user’s journey through a mental health hospital.
Fundamental to a healing atmosphere for service users is a range of therapy spaces
Starting the journey from the ‘front door’, the workshop then focused on the importance of an individual’s bedroom, which is considered the most private space - where service users should be able to feel safe, secure and comfortable.
During the workshop and in collaboration with Experts by Experience, it became evident that not one size fits all; something as simple as the location of the bed can have either positive or negative effects for an individual going through challenges; and can evoke memories of past trauma or safeness.
This highlights the benefits of stakeholder engagement by a wide array of participants, as well as flexibility in spaces.
Flexibility is imperative throughout P+HS projects – both in terms of a room’s use and how a space can be orientated. With increasing material and build costs, considering how rooms can provide multiple functions is key to ensure value for money, whilst providing a therapeutic environment for service users and a positive working environment for staff.
Mental health Trusts face difficult challenges and are continuously looking to reduce risk of harm at any costs
Fundamental to a healing atmosphere for service users is a range of therapy spaces, including larger activity rooms for group activities, alongside smaller rooms for 1-2-1 sessions or private reflection. Utilising these spaces efficiently is one of the key challenges for any design.
Can they be accessed by services users when most needed, in a safe manner? This is of particular importance when NHS finances and staffing numbers are stretched.
Design in Mental Health Network has collaborated with the BRE to develop the Informed Choices testing criteria, a standardised testing procedure for mental health products with a grading system approach.
The grading system deviates from a pass/fail, towards a level of risk spectrum, based on cord diameters and weights.
A building can do amazing things to improve a person’s wellbeing
Mental health Trusts face difficult challenges and are continuously looking to reduce risk of harm at any costs, even at the expense of patient dignity if it means a service user remains alive whilst in their care.
However, utilising the Informed Choices grading system, products can be chosen to suit the environment, avoiding the need to over-specify at the expense of a humanised space.
It is this balance which is a fine line to tread. Patient and staff safety is of the upmost importance, but to create a truly healing environment, it needs to be therapeutic and promote recovery.
Incorporating natural light, calming colours, and outside views can significantly improve the mood and wellbeing of all users.
Budget and site constraints are inherent challenges in any design
When designing Foss Park, this was one of the key drivers and the main reason why patient bedroom corridors are single sided, allowing patients to step out of their private space and immediately see outdoor space, rather than
blank corridor elevations or neighbouring service user bedrooms, and a series of doors.
Bedrooms all look out onto a landscaped courtyard, offering peace and tranquillity, whilst the central courtyard between bedroom corridors provides outdoor space for activities or relaxing.
A building can do amazing things to improve a person’s wellbeing, and as designers, this needs to be at the forefront of our minds at every stage of a project, especially within a mental healthcare setting.
“A restrictive, institutional setting can make you feel powerless. But a warm, engaging space can support recovery in ways that medication alone cannot,” (Raf Hamaizia, Expert by Experience Lead, Cygnet Health Care).
Budget and site constraints are inherent challenges in any design, but when designing for mental health, architects and designers can create places that can truly promote recovery, improve well- being, and provide comfort to individuals living with mental health challenges. When done well, this is an extremely rewarding feat.