Through the lens of patients: a photovoice study exploring inpatients’ sense of safety and well-being in a new Norwegian mental health facility

Journal article, 2025

Patients’ sense of safety and well-being may be affected in numerous ways while being cared for in hospitals. Often, feelings of alienation arise, as private spaces like the home are inaccessible. One aspect that impacts patients’ safety and well-being is the design of the physical care environment. In this study, we sought to understand the impact of the physical environment and interpret the meanings of the care environment and its contributions to inpatients’ sense of safety and well-being. Fourteen adult patients were being cared for in a new mental health facility where a key feature is the focus on supportive and biophilic design and access to nature. Data were generated using a photovoice methodology (i.e., photos were taken by the participants themselves, followed by individual interviews). We adopted a phenomenological hermeneutic approach to research lived experiences and analyzed the interviews. Three major themes emerged: being sheltered, feeling cared for and dignified, and being held by nature. We found that the patients were able to find calmness, to land, and to rest in the new mental health facility because of the supportive design. Therefore, they were more open to therapeutic interventions that might make the recovery process faster. The insights from this study underscore the importance of prioritizing design features that address the various and holistic needs of patients in mental health care.