What is a Section 136 Suite?
The purpose of a Section 136 Suite, sometimes known as a mental health suite is to serve as a place of safety for individuals who are detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in England and Wales. A person can be detained under Section 136 if they have a mental illness and there is an immediate need for ‘care or control’.
Once the person is detained under Section 136, they can be taken to a Section 136 Suite, also often referred to as a mental health ‘place of safety’ , which is a designated location where a mental health assessment can take place. The suite is intended to provide a safe and secure environment for individuals who may be vulnerable and exhibit unpredictable behaviours due to their mental health conditions.
“I would like to see patients having more of a connection with nature, because generally speaking nature is a soothing environment … a view of something nice, like a tree or being able to be near the landscape.”
Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist – High Secure Mental Health Unit.
Importance of creating mental health spaces
Since the publication of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Council Report on the standards of places of safety provided Under Section 136 (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1997) there have been important developments in mental health services. Following a continuation of study by the The London Development Centre and Metropolitan Police Authority into Section 136 Suites, staff welfare, police conduct and most importantly, the experience 136 patients receive, there is now an increasing pressure on NHS Trusts to provide a place of safety, training and monitoring of those in mental health spaces in hospitals.
Key considerations for designing Section 136 suites
Across the UK many Section 136 Suites have become outdated, cannot keep up with growing demand, or are unfit for purpose. Many are small and cannot tailor to the therapeutic needs of these vulnerable patients, nor do they have the facilities to treat patients with the dignity they deserve.
Comfort and calmness:
The layout and design of the Suite should promote feelings of calmness and serenity, as the environment can significantly impact the mental well-being of the individuals.
The provision of natural light, space, colours, temperature and air quality all impact the experience and ultimately the therapeutic benefit.
Security & safety:
Safety is critical; the Suite must ensure the safety and security of both the detained individuals and staff members. Measures should be in place to prevent vandalism and create a robust environment and at the same time every effort must be made to ensure the environment doesn’t become oppressive.
“We need to ensure people are still receiving the right specialist care. These dedicated facilities will ensure patients experiencing a mental health crisis receive the care they need in an appropriate way, while freeing up staff availability, including within A&E departments.”
Steve Barclay, Health and Social Care Secretary
According to Sage, there has been a significant increase in the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in England and Wales, particularly over the past 10 years, but the reasons for this increase remain unclear. The strain placed on health services may have also resulted in a greater reliance on the police as an access point to NHS care and could result in the inappropriate use of Section 136.
Fast-track modular, fully compliant, Section 136 Suites available in less than six months.
The purpose-designed Modular 2 Assessment Room Suites have been developed with a multi-agency team to respond to CQC and RCP guidance. These robust and therapeutically designed mental health modular suites have been created for integration into existing community, acute and multi service sites and allow for maximised safety, security, privacy and dignity.
The Section 136 Suites can be scaled up as required – grouped installation can achieve multiple assessment spaces that can be bespoke to your needs.
Explore mental health spacesDesign in mental health webinars and resources
Alongside our podcasts and webinars, we host regular workshops including a focus on mental health design. To stay up-to-date with our events, join our newsletter.
