Home > A report on physical environments in mental health inpatient units.

Finnerty, Susan (2021) A report on physical environments in mental health inpatient units. Dublin: Mental Health Commission.

[img]
Preview
PDF (A report on physical environments in mental health inpatient units)
696kB

The importance of the physical environment in mental health is not disputed and it is even more important where someone is being treated for mental illness in inpatient units. Mental health inpatient units (approved centres) are regulated by the Mental Health Commission and Regulation 22: Premises covers the physical environment. Over many years, mental health inpatient units have struggled to comply with this regulation, achieving a maximum compliance level of 33% between 2017- 2019. The reasons for non-compliance are varied but include the presence of ligature anchor points, lack of cleanliness, poor decorative and maintenance standards, poor ventilation, presence of hazards, and insufficient or unsuitable furniture.

The buildings of many mental health units are not appropriate for delivering mental health care. Many are converted from other healthcare buildings and are unsuitable as mental health facilities, with long corridors, poor lines of sight, cramped living and sleeping space, multi-occupancy bedrooms and small sitting rooms. Many acute facilities have no dedicated beds for older people. Emergency Departments are often the first port of call for people with mental illness and it is essential that people can be assessed in a safe and private environment. Irish Emergency Departments have good facilities for mental health assessments and are in the most part sufficiently safe and private. It is encouraging to note that new mental health units opened in the last 4-5 years meet the requirements of the regulation and also have single en suite bedrooms with plenty of space internally and externally. However, many unsuitable buildings remain which will require considerable funding to either replace or bring to an acceptable standard.

Item Type
Report
Publication Type
Irish-related, Report
Drug Type
All substances
Date
February 2021
Pages
24 p.
Publisher
Mental Health Commission
Place of Publication
Dublin
EndNote
Related (external) link

Repository Staff Only: item control page