Building Wellness
How to create a space that fosters mental wellbeing
Almost half (45%) of all Australians will experience a mental health issue over the course of their lifetime. Out of these figures, more than half do not access treatment, with some resorting to inpatient care to get better. We are long overdue for the complete de-stigmatisation of mental health issues. While we’ve made progress as a society in terms of opening up to loved ones and checking in with those around us, there is a lot that can be done in the way of infrastructure to break down barriers and provide people with the care they need.
Farnoud Erfanian Nozar
For people requiring care beyond what they receive at home, inpatient care may be necessary. A key goal for these inpatient facilities is to support the patient in a time of acute stress, at least until they are stable enough to return home and drop down to a less intensive level of care. These facilities are often a last effort intervention for the patient’s mental health, so the experience must be a positive one that ultimately guides the patient towards their own wellness goal.
In the past, these facilities have usually been designed similarly to a hospital ward, however as education and research progresses, it has been found that a “salt and pepper” design approach is more conducive to patient recovery and wellness.
Salt and Pepper design refers to a residential dwelling containing private and affordable units with shared amenities and facilities. The idea behind this design is to integrate impatient care throughout the community, to breakdown the stigmas associated with psychiatric hospitals which are counterproductive to both the recovery of patients and the way mental health is viewed as a society overall.
Additional to their locations in residential areas, these units foster a feeling of community among patients which is taken into consideration not only regarding their location but also their design. Design features include maximisation of natural light, exposure to greenery and use of natural materials such as timber and stone which can evoke a sense of freedom and calm. These design features work to cultivate an environment that is comfortable and nurturing, likening it to a temporary home rather than many traditional treatment facilities in hospital wards that feel sterile, impersonal, and cold.
Farnoud Erfanian Nozar
The design of these smaller-scale units can make a huge difference on the patient’s recovery process, as they are often situated in well-connect residential areas that allow for gradual community exposure, making for a smoother transition process once treatment ends.
