Design Considerations for Behavioral Health  

Standards such as the FGI Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities are excellent resources to illuminate best practices. As part of a robust and comprehensive patient-safety risk assessment in pre-project planning, it is important to weigh the level of precaution necessary to reduce the risk of patient self-harm.

The design challenge faced is in balancing patient safety without negatively impacting the creation of a therapeutic environment that is conducive to patient healing and recovery. Nonetheless, as the data shows, the preponderance of inpatient suicide by hanging is an area requiring increased focus and action.

No product can or should claim to be “suicide proof.” That said, ligature-resistant products and systems can hopefully reduce the incidence of self harm.

Photo courtesy of Inpro Corporation

Kevin Macoubrie is a Behavioral Health Account Specialist with the blended experience of helping Architects, Interior Designers, Contractors and Facilities navigate the unique challenges of Behavioral Health product applications. Consulting on hundreds of projects over the past 25 years he has helped provide safe, durable solutions specific to Behavioral Health, Addiction/Rehabilitation, Developmentally Disabled and other abusive environments. Kevin believes the interior design of a facility plays an integral role in positive client outcomes and takes pride in providing a safe environment for people who can’t care for themselves. A San Diego native who relocated to the Midwest five winters ago, he now roots for the Green Bay Packers after his football team moved to Los Angeles./i>