NEWS Art’s role in therapeutic settings in focus


The ninth Design with People in Mind booklet, published next month, discusses the impact of art in mental healthcare settings, and asks ‘To what extent can art contribute to the making of a therapeutic space, and what evidence is there to support this?’ Seeking an answer, the authors not


Mark Titchner’s artwork for East London NHS Foundation Trust’s Bevan Ward PICU.


only ‘trawled the academic literature’ for evidence, but also interviewed artists, some with lived experience, working in mental health environments, exclusively for the new publication. Covering artworks ranging from visual art


to music, drama, and textiles, The Art Issue has been co-authored by DiMHN Trustees, Paula Reavey, Professor of Psychology and Mental Health at London South Bank University, and Steven Brown, Professor of Health and Organisational Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, alongside DiMHN Research Associate, Bethany Gardner, and architect and DiMHN Associate, William Wang. The booklet’s introduction notes that


famous 19th century textile designer, artist, and writer, William Morris, believed art ‘must


play a vital role in the lives of all people, regardless of social standing and status’. The authors say: “Like many Victorian social reformers, Morris believed art should extend beyond the walls of private and public wealthy establishments, and bring comfort, meaning, and cheer to all, as well as communicate on social-cultural matters.” Interestingly, the booklet notes, the


Victorian era saw art ‘sometimes extended as far as the large asylums’, and ‘outsider art’ – i.e. art made by self-taught individuals ‘distant from the art world’ – became recognised in mental healthcare. The booklet says: “Sometimes supported by the institution, and at others improvised with great ingenuity by patients, visual arts such as painting were seen as a ‘window’ into patients’ mental health conditions, while asylums often used music as a distraction from boredom.” During the 20th Century,


Hot and cold water dispenser specified for Manchester’s North View


The Qura hot and cold / chilled water dispenser from Hotspot Titanium has been selected for use at North View, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)’s new mental health unit currently under construction in North Manchester. GMMH is investing £105.9 m in the


new adult mental health inpatient unit to replace Park House on the North Manchester General Hospital site. Features will include spacious single bedrooms – each with a private en-suite shower room, indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, therapeutic artwork spaces, and a café, plus a purpose-built PICU, eight adult acute wards, and a treatment suite. Hotspot Titanium said: “Qura’s


deployment at North View marks a significant milestone in enhancing safety protocols and optimising hydration practices. With 16 systems set for installation at this multi-million pound facility, Qura will ensure that service- users and staff have access to the safest drinking facilities possible. Moreover, as Qura continues to demonstrate its effectiveness, the system has seamlessly integrated


THE NETWORK | MAY 2024


into multiple existing GMMH sites. This expansion further underscores the growing presence of Qura, and its proven success in addressing critical safety concerns within mental health facilities.” The company added: “Qura’s water


storage mechanism maintains water at a consistent 99 °C, effectively eliminating any bacterial risks. This proactive approach to water hygiene sets it apart from other systems, addressing a long-standing concern for the Manchester Trust, and reinforcing its decision to embrace this innovative solution. Qura’s energy-efficient design, meanwhile, not only reduces operational costs, but also promotes water conservation through controlled, smooth flow mechanisms.”


‘outsider art’ became recognised as an art practice in its own right, and the rise of arts-based therapies recognised ‘the therapeutic potential for the visual language of art to assist in emotional articulation and healing’. Printed copies of The Art Issue can be picked


up from the DiMHN stand (600) at June’s Design in Mental Health 2024 event, with an online version also set to be available for members.


Forbo launches ‘dementia-friendly’ safety flooring


Forbo Flooring Systems says its new Surestep Balance range, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE)-compliant safety flooring,‘can fit the aesthetic and functional requirements for dementia- friendly environments’. Forming part of ‘a wider refresh’ of its


Step safety flooring, Surestep Balance has been designed specifically with dementia- friendly environments in mind, and features eight colourways with a subtle speckled, minimalist matte effect, to ‘help to create contemporary, inclusive, flooring schemes’. Surestep Balance floorcoverings have a


PUR Satin Pearl finish, ‘offering excellent stain, chemical, and scratch resistance’, and making the floorcovering easy to clean and maintain throughout its service life. Forbo claims also to boast the lowest embodied carbon of any safety vinyl available on the market, without offsetting. Lewis Cooper, senior


Marketing executive, said: “We’re delighted to be introducing Surestep Balance to the market. There is a clear need for floorcoverings that can cater to neurodiverse conditions, such as dementia, while also fulfilling all important safety requirements. With our Surestep Balance collection, you’re not only getting a true safety flooring, but one that prioritises the wellbeing and safety of those using it too.” Forbo’s Step safety flooring is 100%


phthalate-free, and incorporates an average of 24% recycled content in its manufacturing process, as well as meeting all HSE and European safety norms – with a ≥36 PTV value and R10 slip resistance.


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Gilling Dod


Damian Griffiths


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