Update on joint testing guidance initiative

At May’s Design in Mental Health 2019 Conference, Philip Ross, who leads the Network’s Testing and Innovation workstream, updated delegates on progress.

Philip Ross’s presentation on the DiMHN and BRE’s (the Building Research Establishment’s) joint work to develop test standards and guidance for some of the most widely used products in mental healthcare settings was the first keynote speech of this year’s Design in Mental Health conference at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Titled ‘Design with confidence – comprehensive test methods for products in mental health environments’, it followed a short welcome address from the DiMHN’s chair, Jenny Gill, who explained that the new product testing guidance will be the latest in a series of authoritative and wellresearched guidance documents produced by, or on behalf of, the DiMHN over the past 3-4 years. These include several ‘Design with People in Mind’ guides looking at topics such as the impact on those with mental ill health of sensory and environmental elements such as sound, access to nature, and sufficient personal space. All draw on existing evidence related to design and mental health, and such factors’ impact on recovery. Followinglast year’s publication of a guide focusing on acoustics and mental health, and a Stakeholder Engagement guide this year, DiMHN has this year published a new Design with People in Mind booklet, The Nature Issue(see also page 6), which was officially launched at the conference. Elements covered include ‘Nature and vitality’, ‘Therapeutic nature’, ‘Nature and design’, and ‘Healing, walking, and activities in nature’.

Guidance for PICU design