Mental Health - Overarching Guideline

An updated revision of HPU 131 Mental Health – Overarching Guideline (Revision 2.0, January 2024) has been uploaded.  The revised version has been informed by an extensive consultation process through a co-design approach including clinical, operational and technical experts, as well as participants with lived experience of mental illness.

Key changes to the document include:

• Updates to the overarching planning and design principles for mental health inpatient units.
• Emphasis on the need to involve people with lived and living experience and their cultural representatives as equal partners throughout the entire planning and design process alongside clinicians, staff and other experts.
• Updates to the language and terminology throughout the document, acknowledging that this does vary between jurisdictions and ensuring that the guideline has a positive focus on supporting therapeutic and recovery-oriented care in the least restrictive environment. 
• Revised definition of ‘anti-ligature design’, noting that where the term is used in the document it is expected that the product will be of a type specifically manufactured and marketed as anti-ligature/ligature resistant, has been tested prior to installation or has a proven track record, and is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Emphasis on the need for a thorough, well documented risk assessment to guide the design process. This should identify the level of risk associated with each area / zone across a unit that will inform the selection of Furniture, Fittings and Equipment (FFE)
• Updates to information relating to outdoor areas, acknowledging that these are essential to the consumers’ recovery and wellbeing, provide opportunities for social engagement, and form a safe and therapeutic part of the service.
• Emphasis on the importance of art in mental health units including an overview of the associated benefits, contemporary approaches and safety considerations relating to installations.
• Updates to information relating to support for families / whānau, carers and other supporters including consideration of the needs of users, cultural considerations and local jurisdictional policies / models.  
• Removal of recommended area requirements per consumer for communal areas given this information is more appropriately located within the service specific mental health HPUs.
• Updates to all relevant references and recommended further reading including relevant New Zealand references.