A new North American network dedicated to advancing mental health design has officially launched, and Parkin is proud to be among the founding firms supporting its development. The Design in Mental Health Network North America (DiMHN-NA), inspired by the work of the UK-based Design in Mental Health Network, is dedicated to strengthening mental health design across Canada and the United States.
As one of the founding firms and organizational partners, Parkin is contributing to the development of this North American charity and its mission to advance better mental health environments for patients, staff, families, and communities. Parkin Principals Claire O’Donnell and Kyle Basilius were involved from the onset of the initiative, with Kyle now serving in the charity’s leadership as a DiMHN-NA Associate and Chair of the Subscribers, Sponsors, and Marketing Workstream, helping to establish communications, engagement, and momentum as the network grows.
The Design in Mental Health Network North America brings together people with lived experience, family members and caregivers, mental health clinicians, architects, designers, planners, health system leaders, researchers, academics, industry partners, policymakers, students, and emerging professionals. By connecting diverse perspectives involved in creating, operating, delivering care in, supplying, studying, and experiencing mental and behavioural health environments, the network strengthens the role of design in creating compassionate, evidence-based, recovery-oriented care settings. The organization is founded on the belief that better mental and behavioural health environments are shaped by many forms of expertise and experience.
Parkin’s involvement reflects our longstanding commitment to mental health design, including our work on leading healthcare and mental health projects across Canada and our continued focus on dignity, safety, cultural responsiveness, accessibility, and human-centred care. The exchange of knowledge and best practices through DiMHN-NA will help us continue delivering informed, evidence-based solutions that support our clients in creating better mental health environments.
“Mental health design requires thoughtful collaboration across disciplines, perspectives, and lived experiences. Through the Design in Mental Health Network North America, we have an opportunity to help advance environments that are safer, more supportive, and more responsive to the needs of patients, families, staff, and communities.”, Kyle Basilius, Principal, Parkin Architects; DiMHN-NA Associate; and Chair, Subscribers, Sponsors, and Marketing Workstream
We look forward to supporting the growth of the Design in Mental Health Network North America and contributing to an international conversation about how the built environment can improve care experiences for people experiencing mental health challenges and those who care for them.
To learn more about the Design in Mental Health Network North America and explore its newly launched website, visit www.dimhn-na.org.
Photos left to right: Providence Care Hospital, Parkwood Institute, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care
Feature Photo: Red Fish Centre for Mental Health & Addiction