Lighting in Mental and Secure Healthcare – Supporting Wellbeing with Circadian Rhythms

Synopsis

Join us as we explore the critical link between lighting and mental health in this educational session on circadian-responsive lighting. As awareness increases of the impact of light on human biology and physiology, we have an opportunity to improve environments in mental healthcare settings by synchronising lighting design with natural circadian rhythms.

Decades of research show that exposure to light, particularly blue wavelengths, affects more than just our vision – it influences alertness, mood, and the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Increased levels of blue-enriched light during the day can benefit cognitive function and mood, while reducing blue light into dusk and as the evening approaches promotes better sleep quality, supporting the well-being of both service users and staff.

We will look at the science behind non-visual light responses and their practical applications in mental healthcare environments. Attendees will learn how dynamic lighting systems that adapt throughout the day can help reduce fatigue and improve quality of sleep while creating safer, more rehabilitative surroundings.

The discussion will include recent case studies, highlighting real-world examples of circadian lighting solutions implemented in mental healthcare and dementia care environments. These studies reveal very promising results, including a reduction in falls of over 40% over two years within an aged care facility – the majority of the reduction in falls being during the night.

Lee will touch on the practical and procedural challenges of delivering human-centric lighting in secure environments, where safety and durability must be balanced with creating supportive, non-institutional spaces. We will look at how modern lighting technologies such as the Melagen system can meet these challenges by delivering targeted blue-enriched and blue-depleted light cycles that work with the natural rhythms of both service users and staff.

This session will offer guidance and insights into creating healthier, human-centric environments for both rehabilitation and ongoing residential care.