The next big opportunity to improve mental health care delivery lies within designers’ hands, according to an article on the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo website.
Designers can offer thoughtful solutions that provide a design spotlight, dignity and support, the article said.
"Take a moment to consider when you have felt a dip in your mental health; it doesn’t take much — stress at work, the end of a relationship, the onset of a physical illness. There are many moments in life when our mental health is compromised. Drawing on those experiences can be the foundation for thoughtful, supportive design."
Many mental health facilities are far from embracing an evidence-based approach and evoking a hospitable, homey feel like that of many new hospitals. Too many facilities are more closely related to an incarceration environment.
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