Updating Mental or Behavioral Health Language and Design to a Modern Healthcare Approach

• By: Brooke Martin, AIA, NCARB, CCHP, LEED Green Associate Cassey Franco, AIA, LEED AP Dewberry
• October 7th, 2022
• architecture, behavioral health facilities, Fall 2022 Issue, identify-first language, interior design, language, person-first language, sensory sensitivities, stigma, terminology
• 891    0

More and more today, mental health care is accepted as an optimal course of action for millions of people. Those seeking care anticipate restorative outcomes. As recently as thirty years ago, mental health institutions were referred to in derogatory terms. Many of these secure institutional...