MENTAL HEALTH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN (MHA)
This guideline is designed in support of various behavior management strategies in place for innumerable mental health challenges participant’s face daily.
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Design principles have been produced by the Co-founder of Aussie Youth Care who has provided for a great range of participants diagnosed with multiple complex behaviors and mental health disorders. This unique insight obtained throughout frontline support has inspired the design of architectural principles outlined in this document.
MHA Design recognizes the current lack of support and options provided towards varying mental health participants within their home environment. Bridging this gap through user specific support aims to enable growth; considering how triggering our surrounding environment can be for behaviors presented.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
SENSORY FRIENDLY
As there is no single set of characteristics for those on the spectrum, a clear understanding must be made of each participants sensory needs.
This must take place both structurally through architectural form and aesthetically by interior design and organization of spaces.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Every participant has a right to grow and advance as any other individual in society. To promote this, a home must feel safe and secure for a participant whilst offering various opportunities for development of skills and functionality.
ADAPTABLE DESIGN
Change will always follow growth and to support this relationship, a space must be open to constant transformation as per the needs of its user. Working closely with current SDA guidelines will further ensure equal access to all
USER SPECIFICITY
An individual must have complete choice and control of their space, this can be supported through the provision of various options and possibilities for how a space is used. By handing over this control from the architect to the user, a house can become a home.