A new paper by Dr Gail Kenning has highlighted how lived experience can inform the design of safer, more inclusive environments for people experiencing trauma and mental health challenges.
As awareness of mental health continues to grow, there is increasing recognition that the environments in which people seek support can shape their sense of safety, belonging and wellbeing. However, many spaces are designed without meaningful input from people with lived experience of mental ill-health or trauma.
Drawing on research conducted through The Big Anxiety festival, the paper explores how psychosocial design principles can create environments that foster trust, connection and participation. Through surveys and participant feedback, the team of researchers found that people valued spaces where they felt welcomed, respected and recognised, with opportunities for reciprocal relationships rather than one-way support. Practical design elements such as quiet spaces, creative activities, clear communication and trauma-informed approaches were identified as important contributors to psychological safety.
鈥淥ur research shows that good design is about more than physical spaces - it is about creating environments where people feel seen, heard and able to connect with others,鈥 says lead author Dr Gail Kenning. 鈥淏y embedding lived experience into the design process, we can create more inclusive and supportive experiences for people living with mental health challenges.鈥
The findings highlight the importance of moving beyond traditional service models and placing lived experience at the centre of designing environments that promote mental health, resilience and community connection.