Room design in behavioral healthcare is a large component of effective treatment of mental health issues. Everything from the layout of a facility to the colors used can affect the mood of patients and in turn the effectiveness of the treatment they receive.

Beyond the internal design of a room, tools such as custom whiteboards have also been proven to be effective tools for treatment and communication. Patient whiteboards have been successfully used in the hospital setting for years, resulting in increased communication, better treatment and higher HCAHPS scores.

Since their use in general healthcare settings has been well received, psychiatric doctors and behavioral specialists have begun to use them in their facilities, too.

Designing the Right Space

One of the most common rooms used in behavioral centers is the sensory room, a place where patients can go to calm them during episodes of overwhelming emotion. Sensory room development is crucial because everything that is present can affect patient treatment.

Whiteboard use is on the rise for these rooms, as well. Treating physicians and care staff use them for conveying messages to patients, better explaining exercises or activities or outlining schedules for medication or daily activities.

A Solutions for Hospitals, Too

Outside of behavioral treatment centers, hospitals are on their way to becoming the front lines of mental health treatment. Over 4% of emergency room trips (5.3 million trips) were due to mental health conditions.

Due to the rising number of visits, more and more hospitals are devoting a space for mental health treatment.

While the normal preference for hospitals are glass whiteboards or those with custom frame options, because of the risk they cause to behavioral health patients, these options are not the best for mental health treatment. Instead, administrators opt for whiteboard paint, which is neither reliable nor easy-to-use. The most common problem occurs when care teams accidentally write beyond the area of the paint, creating a mess that is hard to clean.

The best options for sensory rooms and mental health facilities: frameless options. These custom whiteboards can be fixed to the wall with tamperproof screws. They are easy to clean, even more easy to use and are safe for behavioral healthcare facilities.

To learn more about frameless whiteboards, read our free eBook on how custom dry erase boards encourage more dynamic communication.