The importance of psychiatric hospital architecture in promoting mental health: The neglected preventive approach
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We are writing this letter to highlight a critical and often overlooked issue in psychiatric care: the neglect of therapeutic architectural design as a fundamental component of patient recovery and safety.At the same time, attention to the physical environment has a historical background in nursing.For instance, a century ago, Florence Nightingale emphasized that a suitable environment plays a significant role in the prevention of harm and the recovery of patients [1].This foundational principle remains alarmingly absent in modern psychiatric ward design.We contend that the physical environment of psychiatric wards is a crucial but often neglected component of psychiatric care, largely overlooked by policymakers, and this neglect results in insufficient attention and resources devoted to creating therapeutic and safe ward environments [2].This practical approach is strongly supported by a recent qualitative metaanalysis by Schlee et al. (2022), which systematically reviewed the effects of therapeutic landscapes in psychiatric care.The study confirms that the physical (built and natural), social, and symbolic dimensions of the environment are fundamental to the health and recovery of service users and contribute to healthy workplaces for staff [3].Moreover, recent research in psychiatric care shows that prevention is a key aspect of environmental design.Careful environmental design can help reduce risky behaviors, lower anxiety, and give patients more control.This preventive approach operates through several key mechanisms: For instance, reducing environmental stressors (such as lowering noise and providing calming visuals) directly lowers physiological arousal and anxiety, mitigating the risk of aggressive behavior.Furthermore, design elements that increase patients' perceived control (such as allowing them to personalize their space) can alleviate feelings of helplessness and institutionalization, thereby preventing critical incidents and reducing agitation.
Language: English
Subfield: Urban Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4417525614