Design Solutions Theatre Seminars

Alina Agarkova, Marketing Manager at Yewdale and a late-diagnosed autistic individual, offers a compelling exploration of how simple environmental changes can significantly improve the experiences of autistic people within NHS facilities, particularly in mental health settings. Drawing from her personal journey through the NHS—a journey prolonged by eight years due to sensory sensitivities and communication challenges—Alina sheds light on the often-overlooked impact of environmental factors on autistic individuals seeking healthcare.

In her talk, Alina will provide an overview of autism and delve into the sensory sensitivities that many autistic people share. She will discuss how loud noises from crowded waiting rooms, excessive lighting from fluorescent lamps or unshaded natural light, and overly bright rooms without adequate sun protection can lead to difficulty concentrating, dissociation, shutdowns, or even meltdowns. These overwhelming experiences not only hinder effective communication with healthcare providers but also exacerbate stress in environments meant to offer support.

Alina will also address the critical concern that some autistic individuals may engage in self-harm during severe meltdowns or when faced with overwhelming environments, which can, in extreme cases, lead to suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is essential that mental health facilities are equipped to prevent harm and provide safe, calming environments.

Transitioning from challenges to solutions, Alina will highlight practical, easy-to-implement changes that can make a substantial difference. She will discuss the use of sound-absorbing panels to reduce ambient noise, curtains for light control and additional sound absorption, and blinds that manage both light and sound while introducing calming colours into the environment. She will introduce anti-ligature products supplied by Yewdale that are suitable for such settings, emphasising their role in preventing self-harm. Additionally, Alina will showcase options like in-suite doors and SafeArt that can be personalised to make autistic individuals feel more welcome, even during the most challenging times of their lives. Backed by research, she will illustrate how colour choices and personalised environments can positively influence mood and well-being among autistic individuals.

Developing good design through co-production to create safe spaces, which is appropriate to the user groups background and needs is critical to improving long term therapeutic outcomes and supporting equality, diversity and inclusion objectives of Trusts. A Year on from launching the Co-Production CAMHS Collaboration at Design in Mental Health 2024, Mark Childs, Kevin Gorman and Andrew Arnold reflect on the continued learning gained from opening the mock-up room, how it has already influenced new project design and future plans for its development globally.
Building on the previous years’ research, development and collaboration undertaken by Gilling Dod, Kingsway Group and Britplas, in June 23, we opened the 1:1 scale mock up to the wider Mental Health industry to peer review and input. Having undertaken qualitative research with Experts by Experience (EbE’s), Caudwell Children’s Charity and NHS Trusts we built a room, which was developed with a person centric approach, where rest, recouperation and sleep were central pillars of the design.
We understood in creating the room, the design was not intended to be a ‘destination’, rather a journey, with the aim of creating a lasting legacy by increasing awareness of the need for good design and to promote better outcomes for young people accessing Mental Health inpatient provision.
With a particular focus on Neurodivergent, Learning Difficulty and Eating Disorder user groups, we have held of series of Open Days across the year which have included Clinical leads, Health & Safety and Facilities teams, people with Lived Experience, Architects and Construction partners, with the central question ‘how would you build a CAMHS room’ centred around a therapeutic approach and how do you see the mock up adding to the experience for service users.

This presentation explores how thoughtful, patient-centered furniture design can enhance mental health environments by balancing safety, comfort, and aesthetics. With a focus on ligature risk reduction, the presentation draws from real-world examples, such as the Peter Hodgkinson Centre and Camden & Islington, where Hygenius provided custom fitted solutions to NHS facilities. These projects illustrate how high-quality, reduced-ligature furniture fosters therapeutic, homely environments that support mental health recovery, while maintaining critical safety standards in NHS care settings.

Fire safety on mental health wards is governed by the same regulations and guidelines as acute hospitals to ensure the safety of patients and staff. However, the nature of these wards presents their own specific and unique challenges. The service users often have conditions that make them more vulnerable during emergencies. They may have limited mobility, cognitive impairments, or be under medication that affects their ability to respond quickly
There is potential for patients to become disoriented, distressed or uncooperative during an evacuation. Some patients may not understand the meaning of a fire alarm or the need to evacuate, requiring clear instructions and staff support.
We must also take into account the risk of deliberate fire setting by service users requiring specific strategies and preventive measures to ensure the safety of all occupants
Mental health crises can lead to unpredictable behaviour which can include tampering with or damaging fire safety equipment including detector heads, extinguishers and fire doors, but we need to ensure that these are available & in good working order when required.
Service users will often take out their frustrations on the built environment
This presentation will look at some of the challenges we face ensuring that the wards are fire-safe but still providing a healing environment

As we strive for better mental health solutions in today’s world, it is crucial to integrate sustainable practices into design and development. The challenge lies in creating environments that not only promote safety and well-being but also contribute to a more sustainable world overall.

Designing for the mental health environment, safety is a fundamental concern. Facilities must prioritise safety while also addressing mental health needs with sensitivity and care.

To achieve this safety in products and spaces, testing is critical. Through proper testing, ranging from robustness to infection control, products and designs can be evaluated to ensure they are not only fit for purpose but also environmentally sustainable. [Refer to case study]

But this admirable focus on the built environment and the immediate surroundings of patients can only exist within a larger context: that of the wellbeing of the wider world.

We can not ignore the climate crisis and conservation, care and sustainable thinking should be permeating our designs, our planning and our priorities. [Refer to case study]

Current industry practices highlight ongoing efforts to balance effectiveness and sustainability, with many companies are now aligning with sustainable goals, using resources more responsibly and seeking more eco-friendly materials. NHS targets and the evergreen Programme provide a roadmap for sustainability in healthcare. These programmes encourage the adoption of greener practices and set goals for a more sustainable future.

The journey to sustainability is ongoing. Understanding what sustainability means and why it is important is key. Ultimately it is about minimising environmental impact. [Refer to case study for example]

Balancing performance and sustainability can be challenging. However, making sustainable choices across all aspects of design and production is essential for long-term success. This does not have to compromise infection control or quality.

The People | Planet | Profit principle provides helpful information for the industry and encourages a balanced approach in all areas.

Shared responsibility is vital. Every stakeholder, from designer to consumer, has a role to play in making sustainable choices that benefit both people and the planet. Setting targets and sharing visions enables wider change. Aligning on sustainability goals fosters innovation and creates room for new, environmentally friendly solutions that consider social and community values.

Innovation is the change, challenging processes or legacy systems. Ultimately, we all have a role to play in protecting the planet to protect our loved ones, and by embracing sustainable mental health design, we can contribute to a healthier future for both people and the environment.

Fire doors are a critical component of the fire safety strategy in mental health hospitals, helping to protect lives and maintain a safe environment. They are designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different sections of the ward & hospital. This containment is crucial in protecting patients, staff, and giving everyone more time to evacuate safely.
By containing fire and smoke, fire doors help keep evacuation routes clear and safe. This is particularly important in mental health hospitals where evacuating patients can be problematic
Fire doors also play an important security role
They must meet strict standards and regulations, including those outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Fire doors can be subject to more damage as service users will often take out their frustrations on the door & so they will require regular robust inspections & maintenance which will maintain the fire resistance of the door
This presentation will look at some of the challenges we face ensuring that the fire doors will provide the protection we require but still operate as a door during the day-to-day life of the ward

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.

Specifying purpose-designed furniture is critical in Mental Health environments. Our CPD covers a range of topics from compliance & regulations to destruction testing and our BIM/VR capabilities.

Did you know that around a quarter of the UK population has a disability?

That’s 16 million people with 80% of those having what is classed as a hidden disability.

This CPD will provide an outline of what inclusivity and diversity mean. Demonstrating the importance of designing spaces with consideration for the needs of the widest range of people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, to stop them being
overlooked or marginalised in the design process.

The CPD will:

• set the scene for diversity and inclusivity in the UK
• outline current guidance and legislation
• provide an awareness of the 9 protected characteristics
• get advice from interviews with a team of inclusive design champions from across the UK
• discuss design considerations and best practice
• explore illustrative case studies