The Design in Mental Health Network (DIMHN) has a simple goal—to make mental health environments better for patient recovery and safer for staff. There is a lack of independent test guidance or testing for the challenges mental health environments present. The Network has spent the past 5 years developing a series of testing methods specifically for this sector of design and construction.
Philip Ross’ presentation will:
- Discuss some of the common challenges witnessed which were used to develop the testing methods – with a focus on ligature performance and robustness.
- Review key areas of risk within mental health environments and lessons learned about managing risk in reality.
DIMHN’s ultimate goal with the development of the testing guidance is for better product decisions that will help create better recovery environments for patients and staff to work in. They hope this test regime will facilitate existing and new suppliers to the sector innovate in a more focused manner, creating more suitable products.
The presentation will have learning points and takeaways from this discussion that help your current assessment of products and a view for how these testing methods could be translated in other countries if needed in the future.
The MHDF takes place on the 14th & 15th November 2019, Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire.
Find out more information here.
