SAFETY
Spaces that combine safety with wellbeing
Safety systems are an essential component of many mental health setting designs but are too often considered as an afterthought. Simon Hemming, CEO of Pinpoint Limited, sets out out how and why they should form part of the overall therapeutic approach to design.
As a new fiscal year begins, healthcare estates teams, designers and specifiers across the UK will be reviewing priorities for upcoming projects. From new mental health facilities to refurbishments of existing wards, design discussions go beyond regulations and capacity. They look at how the physical environment can actively support therapeutic care, staff wellbeing and long-term operational resilience – which are especially important as services face growing pressure from workforce challenges and ageing estates. In mental health settings in particular, a holistic
approach to design is essential. The built environment plays a critical role in shaping patient experience, supporting recovery and enabling staff to respond confidently to both everyday needs and high-risk situations. Achieving this requires early consideration of four
interlinked areas: therapeutic design, sustainability, responsive safety systems and digital integration. When these elements are considered in isolation, well-intended design decisions in one area can inadvertently undermine outcomes in another, particularly in complex mental health environments. Together, they form a powerful solution that strengthens care, safety and long-term treatment outcomes.
Therapeutic design to support recovery The design of mental health facilities has evolved significantly in recent decades, reflecting a growing body of evidence linking physical environment to mental wellbeing. Spaces that feel calm and comfortable have been
shown to reduce anxiety and agitation, supporting positive staff-patient interactions and boosting recovery. In practice, this means environments that are easy to understand and navigate, avoid unnecessary institutional cues, and support dignity through thoughtful spatial planning. Key therapeutic design principles include clear
sightlines to aid observation, intuitive wayfinding to reduce confusion and layouts that avoid bottlenecks and overcrowding. Access to natural light, calming colour palettes and connection to nature through gardens, courtyards or internal planting are all proven to contribute to a more curative atmosphere. Evidence consistently shows that these design decisions
matter for patient results. A Sheffield University study comparing outcomes between an existing healthcare facility and a new-build designed with wellbeing in mind found a 66 per cent reduction in self-harm and 70 per
cent reduction in mandatory seclusion due to challenging behaviour. Treatment times for mental health patients were 14 per cent lower, and incidents of physical and verbal aggression by patients decreased significantly. While design is not the sole factor influencing these results, the findings underline the powerful role the physical environment can play in supporting safer, more therapeutic care.
More discreet safety devices complement therapeutic environments.
A modern, deliberately unobtrusive design prevents safety alarms from distressing or distracting patients, while still serving as a vital safety tool.
November 2026 Health Estate Journal 67
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