When it comes to mental health care, the atmosphere of a place can have a big impact. Imagine walking into a clinic or hospital that feels warm, welcoming, and safe—somewhere you can truly relax. Recently, I read an interesting article called "Designing beyond Trauma" from “INDESIGN” magazine. It is written by Stephanie Clarke with Justin Littlefield and Cath Muhlebach of ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. It highlighted a new way of designing mental health facilities “co-design.” This approach brings both challenges and opportunities for designers. As an architect, I think "Design Justice" is really important. Principle 2 says we should listen to the people who are directly affected by the design process.
The article says that when designing mental health spaces, it's important to create environments that are inclusive and not too clinical. This helps to meet the needs of different people and reduce the stigma around mental health. With the co-design process, which involves people who have lived experience with mental health issues, designers can create spaces that are more understanding and thoughtful. This means listening to the people who know mental health care best and building spaces that support healing and well-being.
Why do we need a change for the design process?
We've all seen how the pandemic has made things tougher for everyone, especially for those struggling with mental health. And it's not just COVID—years of neglect and underfunding have left our mental health system stretched thin. But things are changing. People are saying, "Enough is enough." They want a system that's more caring, more connected to communities, and easier to access.
Co-design is the key
At the heart of this transformation lies co-design—a collaborative approach that brings together designers, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience to reimagine mental health facilities. Unlike traditional methods where designers led the conversation, co-design places the experiences and perspectives of service users front and center. This shift not only acknowledges the expertise of those who navigate mental health challenges daily but also ensures that designs are more empathetic, inclusive, and reflective of diverse needs.
Benefits of Co-design
Invaluable Insights from Lived Experience: Co-design involving people with lived experience offers invaluable insights into designing mental health facilities. Their perspectives help in creating spaces that offer comfort, refuge, and connection while minimizing triggers for painful memories and emotions.
Enhanced Design Sensitivity: Co-design fosters a more sensitive approach to design, particularly in terms of trauma-informed design and destigmatization efforts. It enables designers to create welcoming, non-clinical environments that cater to the diverse needs of service users, including different age groups and family dynamics.
Improved Therapeutic Outcomes: By incorporating the input of people with lived experience, co-designed spaces can better support therapeutic outcomes. Spaces are tailored to promote healing, relaxation, and engagement, ultimately facilitating better mental health outcomes for service users.
Nuanced and Responsive Design: Co-design leads to more nuanced and responsive design solutions. By collaborating closely with clinicians and individuals with lived experience, designers can address complex needs and preferences, resulting in spaces that are more adaptable and effective in meeting the diverse requirements of service users.
Biophilic Design Integration: Co-design facilitates the integration of biophilic design principles, which have been shown to positively impact mental health and well-being. By collaborating with experts in biophilic design, designers can create environments that promote a connection to nature, thereby enhancing the overall therapeutic environment.
Challenges of Co-design
Adjustment for Designers: Co-design requires significant adjustment for designers accustomed to leading the design process. They may need to adapt to a new model of collaboration that prioritizes the voices of individuals with lived experience over traditional stakeholder groups, necessitating changes in communication strategies and ways of working.
Complex Relationship Building: Building trust and rapport with individuals with lived experience may be a gradual and complex process. Designers must invest time and effort in listening carefully, responding empathetically, and aligning with the new language, priorities, and expectations emerging from co-design feedback.
Navigating Trauma and Sensitivity: Engaging individuals with lived experience in the design process requires sensitivity to the potential triggers and challenges they may face. Designers must navigate conversations about past traumatic experiences and critique of design elements, ensuring that participants feel supported and empowered throughout the process.
Balancing Diverse Perspectives: Co-design involves balancing diverse perspectives and preferences, which may sometimes conflict. Designers must navigate differing advice from various user groups while maintaining a focus on creating inclusive and supportive environments that cater to a range of experiences, from neurodiversity to differing journeys through mental illness.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Designing in a co-design framework is an ongoing learning process with more questions than answers. Designers must continuously adapt to new insights, challenges, and emerging research, such as integrating biophilic design principles and addressing practical considerations, like retrofitting existing buildings.
Making it Real
it's not only talk. We're already seeing some amazing changes happening. From redesigning waiting rooms to making therapy rooms more private and comfortable, every little change makes a big difference. And it's not just about making spaces look nice—it's about making people feel heard, respected, and supported.
What's Next?
As we navigate this evolving landscape of mental health facility design, there are still questions to ponder and challenges to overcome. How do we adapt existing buildings to align with co-design principles? How can we balance conflicting feedback from diverse user groups? But one thing's for sure: co-design is here to stay. And together, we're building a mental health system that's more caring, more connected, and more compassionate than ever before.
In conclusion, the shift towards co-design represents a fundamental reimagining of mental health facility design—one that is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and human-centered principles. By embracing this approach, designers have the opportunity to shape spaces that not only heal but also inspire hope and resilience in those who need it most.
Here is one of the medical facility designs by the ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects
The Alfred Hospital Trauma Inpatient Unit by Clarkehopkinsclarke Architects
The Alfred, a leading Emergency and Trauma Centre in Australia, underwent a significant upgrade to enhance its services and reputation. The project involved transforming a dated space into a modern, patient-focused facility for trauma care. Through extensive stakeholder engagement, including service directors, nurses, therapists, and consumer advocates, the design prioritized the unique needs of trauma patients and staff. This approach resulted in a layout that improves support for all involved, with better-connected spaces, increased natural light, and areas for staff respite. The redesigned facility promotes multidisciplinary collaboration and patient mobility, contributing to faster recovery times. Additionally, innovative waste management strategies position The Alfred as a leader in sustainability. Staff and patients alike appreciate the dignity and healing environment created by the new design, reflecting the success of the co-design process.
References
Archello. The Alfred Hospital Trauma Inpatient Unit.
Clarke, S., Littlefield, J., & Muhlebach, C. ((2022, July 17). Designing beyond trauma. INDESIGN, 156.
Costanza-Chock, S. (2020), Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need, The MIT Press.