Understanding the impact of design on mental health

Mental health is now the second most pressing public health issue in the UK, with 32 percent of respondents to a national survey stating it was their primary concern in 2014, up by 16 percent from 2013.¹ Destigmatization is crucial to tackling the health crisis, and the increased recognition is being met with support from charities, businesses and the government alike.

We’ve seen companies react positively to the growing concerns around mental health and well-being. Corporate benefits like gym memberships, working from home and mental health days have become more commonplace,² but there’s more to the conversation. The impact that design can have on our well-being is often left by the wayside, especially in terms of our emotional responses. A greater understanding of the relationship between our physical environments and emotions, particularly as related to design, would considerably improve the spaces that we create.

On the whole, however, businesses are still lacking in workplace solutions to address well-being. Eighty-four percent of employees state that work has contributed to a poor mental health experience, and only 45 percent of people feel that their organization successfully addresses mental well-being.^3,4

Through my first book, Happy by Design: A Guide to Architecture and Mental Wellbeing, I explored the latest scientific findings to identify the nexus of neuroscience, psychology, architecture and mental well-being. Below are some key design interventions supported by research that can positively impact mental health.

The ability of nature to affect a person’s mental state is profound. Research has shown that contact with nature may reduce stress, improve memory and increase feelings of kindness, happiness and creativity. Other studies even suggest that subjects with greater exposure to the natural world exhibit a higher number of happiness indicators.⁵

Interestingly, the presence of water can also have a significant impact on mental health, as people living near the oceans report better mental well-being than those who don’t.⁶ According to a study by the University of Exeter, our brains are hardwired to have a positive reaction to seeing and hearing water; it is able to calm us, increase creativity and even mentally heal.

With more than 50 percent of the world’s population now living in cities—a number that is expected to rise⁷—many of us are losing this vital connection with the natural world. One solution is for architects and urban planners to design offices, homes, towns and cities that incorporate as many natural elements as possible. For example, the Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden in Sweden uses the soothing effects of nature in conjunction with an intelligently designed landscape to rehabilitate visitors suffering from stress-related illnesses.⁸

Conversely, the built environment also has the potential to deteriorate mental health. For example, messy homes can stimulate the release of cortisol, a hormone that makes us experience stress.⁹ Similarly, the lack of control and unpredictability associated with commuting to work can increase cortisol production and directly affect stress levels.¹⁰ The stress of a hectic commute is likely to linger throughout the day, resulting in decreased happiness and diminished productivity.¹¹

Understanding the way the mind reacts to its environment is crucial to adapting our approach to mental health. While health-oriented workplace programs are vital, incorporating preventative solutions into building design will be instrumental in tackling the mental health crisis moving forward.

Many of the ideas I discuss in “Happy by Design” can be integrated into a buildings’ design without huge cost implications. One common design solution that developers and occupiers are pursuing is the allocation of space to promote activity and boost endorphins. For example, the designation of a single location for a coffee machine within an office encourages staff to move around and socialize with fellow employees. Such simple design solutions can have considerable impact on staff interactions and office-wide well-being.

The incorporation of natural and tactile materials (such as wood, natural fibers, etc.) into a space can also support workplace mental well-being. The use of tactile materials encourages employees to engage directly with their sense of touch—an often overlooked aspect of well-being.¹² These materials subtly encourage employees to interact with their surroundings, which brings focus to the present and contributes to a practice of mindfulness. This design solution can be as simple as choosing timber floorboards or leaving certain areas of brickwork exposed.

We are beginning to see well-being incorporated into real estate in the UK through a growing fitness and lifestyle trend. Specifically, developers and operators within the Build to Rent (BTR) sector are becoming ever-more interested in creating happier, healthier spaces through the creation of wellness suites, outdoor yoga facilities and even Mental Health First Aid trainings for onsite staff.

Integrating design principles that improve mental well-being is also incredibly important for the design of affordable housing, as data unfortunately shows a clear connection between financial difficulties and poor mental health.¹³ An approach to affordable housing design consciously centered on well-being could provide vital support to those who often have the fewest resources to address mental health issues, but who tend to need it most. While design alone will not ‘fix’ serious mental health issues, it is important that we understand the social and psychological value of designing buildings to support our physical and mental health.

1. Ipsos MORI. “Public Health England: Public awareness and opinion survey.” 2017. https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/public-health-england-public-awareness-and-opinion-survey-2017

2. Murray, Megan. ‘Five companies that set the standard in supporting staff’s mental health’. Stylist. 2018. https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/best-uk-companies-supporting-staff-mental-health-awareness-innocent-smoothies/207271

3. Deloitte. At a tipping point? Workplace mental health and wellbeing. 2017. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/public-sector/deloitte-uk-workplace-mental-health-n-wellbeing.pdf

4. NHS Employers. “Mental Health at Work 2018 report”. 2018. https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/2018/10/mental-health-at-work-2018-report

5. Zelenski, John Michael and Elizabeth Nisbet. ‘Happiness and Feeling Connected: The Distinct Role of Nature Relatedness’. Research Gate. 2014. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268034689_Happiness_and_Feeling_Connected_The_Distinct_Role_of_Nature_Relatedness

6. University of Exeter. ‘Evidence shows ocean sound may help reduce stress and create a sense of calm’. 2018. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_658463_en.html

7. United Nations. 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN. 2018. https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html

8. Grahn, Patrik., Inga-Lena Bengtsson, Lena Welén-Andersson and Lillian Lavesson. Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden: possible health effects from the design, from the activities and from the therapeutic team. Research Gate. 2007. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265037411_Alnarp_Rehabilitation_Garden_possible_health_effects_from_the_design_from_the_activities_and_from_the_therapeutic_team

9. Ferrari, Joseph R. Delaying Disposing: Examining the Relationship between Procrastination and Clutter across Generations, 2nd. 2018.

10. A. Clark, ‘Want to feel less stress? Become a fighter pilot, not a commuter’, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/nov/30/research.transport, 2004 (accessed 15 February 2018)

11. Marlynn Wei. ‘Commuting: “The Stress That Doesn’t Pay”’. 2015. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/urban-survival/201501/commuting-the-stress-doesnt-pay

12. J. Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, 2012

13. Mental Health Foundation. ‘Poverty and mental health’. 2016. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/Poverty and Mental Health.pdf