Recommendations for improving mental healthcare environments

Mind’s latest campaign 'Building solutions' focuses on the environments we spend our time in. Our new report Improving mental health environments (read the report in non-printable pdf format) reveals key concerns regarding the often negative impact mental health environments have on our mental wellbeing. In light of this research, Mind has compiled a list of key recommendations.

Mind’s key recommendations:

A pleasant and stimulating environment?

• Wards and their facilities need to be a more stimulating and pleasant environment.
• There should be a range of activities on wards that are available to all.

Cleanliness

• Wards should be maintained to the highest level of cleanliness.

Isolation

• All new wards should be easily accessible by public transport, including evenings and weekends.
• NHS should work with transport planners within the local authority to develop good transport links with existing mental health wards.

Access to nature

• All patients should have access to a pleasant garden every day.
• Access should never be used as a reward or punishment.

Comfort and control

• Service users need to be comfortable in their environment.
• Wards need to be well ventilated and individuals should have reasonable control over temperature and ventilation.

Privacy and dignity

• All service users should have a single room if preferred.
• All wards sleeping accommodation and bathrooms should be single-sex.
• There should be access to single-sex communal areas.

Safety

• Safety in wards needs to be urgently addressed.
• Safety of service users needs to be considered at design stage.
• Service users should be consulted to get their views on how to improve safety on existing wards.

Safety from abuse

• Urgent action needs to be taken by the Department of Health and NHS Wales to address the levels of violence and assaults taking place on some mental health wards.
• Trusts must ensure that sleeping and bathroom areas are fully single-sex.

Service user involvement

• Service users should be involved in the design of new hospitals.
• The Department of Health and NHS Wales should issue guidelines on how to involve all service users.
• Service users should be consulted on a regular basis about their environment to give them an opportunity for improving the environment around them.