Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility
Introduction Patients in mental health care rely on staff for their well-being, security, and quality of treatment. However, staff’s perspective of the physical environment where care takes place remains underexplored. Their insights are crucial to understanding how the environment impacts the quali...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2485697 |
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| author | Anne Hagerup Carina Ribe Fernee Helle Wijk Göran Lindahl Sepideh Olausson |
| author_facet | Anne Hagerup Carina Ribe Fernee Helle Wijk Göran Lindahl Sepideh Olausson |
| author_sort | Anne Hagerup |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Patients in mental health care rely on staff for their well-being, security, and quality of treatment. However, staff’s perspective of the physical environment where care takes place remains underexplored. Their insights are crucial to understanding how the environment impacts the quality of care. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the meanings of the physical environment for inpatient care according to staff shortly after relocation to a new mental health facility. Methods The study employed a phenomenological approach and focus group interviews with 20 staff working in a newly built mental health facility. Data were analysed using van Manen’s existentials and guided by the theory of affordances. Results The primary findings were as follows: (a) attempting to provide a therapeutic atmosphere, (b) design as symbolism, (c) altering the physical environment means altering time, (d) offering spaces for connection and communication, and (e) embodying the new mental health facility. Conclusion The findings indicate that regardless of whether affordances are actualized, opportunities and obstacles in the hospital environment impact the staff’s ability to provide inpatient care according to their standards. Conflict arose due to obstacles inherent in the organization and structure of the new mental health facility that limited opportunities to utilize possible affordances. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24839264a76848f7b47cfb67c05ea838 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-24839264a76848f7b47cfb67c05ea8382025-08-20T02:11:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24856972485697Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facilityAnne Hagerup0Carina Ribe Fernee1Helle Wijk2Göran Lindahl3Sepideh Olausson4University of GothenburgSørlandet hospitalUniversity of GothenburgChalmers University of TechnologyUniversity of GothenburgIntroduction Patients in mental health care rely on staff for their well-being, security, and quality of treatment. However, staff’s perspective of the physical environment where care takes place remains underexplored. Their insights are crucial to understanding how the environment impacts the quality of care. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the meanings of the physical environment for inpatient care according to staff shortly after relocation to a new mental health facility. Methods The study employed a phenomenological approach and focus group interviews with 20 staff working in a newly built mental health facility. Data were analysed using van Manen’s existentials and guided by the theory of affordances. Results The primary findings were as follows: (a) attempting to provide a therapeutic atmosphere, (b) design as symbolism, (c) altering the physical environment means altering time, (d) offering spaces for connection and communication, and (e) embodying the new mental health facility. Conclusion The findings indicate that regardless of whether affordances are actualized, opportunities and obstacles in the hospital environment impact the staff’s ability to provide inpatient care according to their standards. Conflict arose due to obstacles inherent in the organization and structure of the new mental health facility that limited opportunities to utilize possible affordances.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2485697affordancesmental health facilitynaturephenomenologyphysical environmentpsychiatric staff |
| spellingShingle | Anne Hagerup Carina Ribe Fernee Helle Wijk Göran Lindahl Sepideh Olausson Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being affordances mental health facility nature phenomenology physical environment psychiatric staff |
| title | Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| title_full | Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| title_fullStr | Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| title_short | Psychiatric spaces: a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| title_sort | psychiatric spaces a phenomenological case study of staff perspectives after relocation to a new mental health facility |
| topic | affordances mental health facility nature phenomenology physical environment psychiatric staff |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2485697 |
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