Client Canadian Mental Health Association, Muskoka - Perry Sound 

Location Bangor Lodge Bracebridge, ON.

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Thesis Reducing the stigma associated with mental health facilities through a new approach to the built environment.  

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Objective This study’s objective is to provide evidence-based design for a paradigm shift in mental health outreach and social support, through the built and natural environment. 

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Research Design Two separate populations were selected to voluntarily complete an online survey through SurveyMonkey, an accredited online digital surveying company. The first sample population was comprised of students while the second sample population involved employees of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Information about mental health perceptions, stigmatization, mental health facilitates, design preferences for wellbeing promotion and mental health facilities was gathered and assessed. 

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Analysis The responses to the ranking system scaled questions in the survey were analyzed into percentiles and graphed to reveal response trends. The written responses were reviewed and analyzed to reveal themes and connections within individual responses.

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Key Findings Findings from this study indicate that traditional mental health facilities do carry a negative stigma with them. A facility that treats the full spectrum of mental illness disorders and drug/alcohol addiction deters people with acute mental disorders from seeking help. Specific spaces were indicated as helpful with battling acute mental illness including one-on-one counselling rooms, active spaces and workshop spaces.  Built environmental facts such as navigation design, natural lighting and aesthetic appeal held importance to participants.

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Conclusion The results suggest that a different specialized design approach could have positive results for people battling acute mental health issues. It supports that the stigma surrounding acute mental health facilities in Canada can be reformed though a new approach to the physical – built and natural environment. This environment should support the functionality of one-on-one counselling, active atmospheres and hands-on workshops and the structural elements of natural lighting, aesthetic appeal and strong navigation integration.  

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Solution Create an innovative center that represents and reflects the research and evidence that has surfaced during this study. The centers overall goal is to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health by applying evidence based design practices to provide an example of an alternative approach to the mental healthcare facility design - focusing specifically on demographic with acute mental health issues

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I have included my final presentation slide show to showcase the design process and final outcome. Please contact me if you wish to read my final thesis paper. 

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