The Best Mental Health Environments Are Windows to the Community

Mental health environments are sanctuaries of healing and recovery, places where individuals find support during challenging times. These environments play a crucial role in the therapeutic process, impacting the well-being and recovery of patients.

A powerful way to enhance the atmosphere of a mental health facility is through the use of soothing images of the surrounding community.

Local nature photographs foster a sense of connection, calm, and hope – all things you feel when you walk into Allina Health’s Center for Mental Health and Addiction in Fridley, Minnesota.

From the beginning of this project two years ago, Emily Gavin, interior designer project manager for Allina Health Facilities Project Management, understood it was about bringing the community together.  This new facility consolidated four separate outpatient programs into one building.  This is an important way Allina Health is bringing essential care to the people who need it. 

With an increasing need for more mental health spaces, it’s important to make things easier for people seeking treatment.  “Consolidating into one campus and one building cohesively gives our patients that better sense of care. They don’t have to drive to multiple locations to receive care. They really can come to one campus no matter what that need is,” said Gavin.

Gavin said the project always centered around bringing the beauty of the local landscape indoors:

“We chose Kurt Johnson Photography to partner with us on making sure we have local landmarks so when you come into the space, you’ll recognize some of our North Shore images with the lupines and other true Minnesota landmarks.”

She told us how important it was to have artwork in the space “that truly resembled our communities.”

Allina Health is a healthcare system that understands the importance of biophilic design and the role artwork plays in the healing process.

Research has shown that views of nature reduce stress and lead to faster recovery times.

Images of local landscapes elicit feelings of familiarity, comfort, and belonging. They remind patients they’re part of the community’s rich history and their place within it.

Here are several ways Allina Health uses biophilic research, intentional design, and local nature imagery to maximize the benefits for the entire care team and create the ultimate space for healing:

1. Welcoming Entrances

First impressions are important. When you walk through the entrance of Allina Health’s new Center for Mental Health and Addiction, you immediately feel the serenity of the local landscape.  A two-story waterfall image taken in the surrounding area covers a 25-foot wall in the atrium, immersing patients, visitors, and staff in the beauty of Minnesota.

Gavin said she wanted to use an image that would “capture the magnitude of the entrance,” to design a bright, airy space that allows the entire care team to “feel a sense of hope and belonging.”

“It’s the first thing you see when you walk into our building, so really wanting to capture not only the community but our natural elements around Minnesota. We went back and forth on probably ten different images, paring it down from there.” – Emily Gavin, Interior Designer

Gavin said people at the hospital had an opportunity to vote on the image and talked about the importance of considering the principles of trauma-informed design while keeping in mind the clients and community they would be serving. She said it was important the facility was inclusive and inviting to everyone in the community.

The large-scale image printed on Koroseal’s wallcovering immediately conveys a feeling of awe and peace – a welcoming first impression for patients and visitors.

2. Calming Treatment Rooms

It’s important to use images that promote relaxation in treatment and exam rooms. Nature scenes, in particular, create a serene environment conducive to therapeutic work.

Gavin talked about the importance of creating a balance of images that soothe and also uplift patients and staff.  She said the imperfections of nature’s beauty add an authentic look and feel to the images, as opposed to stock images that can be overly edited to be perfect.

3. Inspiring Corridors

It’s important for hallways and common areas to feature a mix of soothing and inspirational images to uplift patients as they move through the facility.

Many of the image groupings work together to tell a story of the surrounding landscape by focusing on verdant wildflowers and native plants and grasses.

KJP’s color slices take multiple local images and create cohesive focal pieces to serve as positive distractions down long corridors.

Gavin said using elements of local landscapes was one of the advantages of partnering with KJP:

“You provide a service where we can specifically request local imagery. You guys will make the trip out to wherever we request, get the images we’re looking for, and then review that with us to make sure we have the shots we want, that will work with our projects to see our vision come to life with the artwork.”

4. Relaxing Staff Areas

The artwork used throughout the facility was just as important for staff since research shows nature images benefit the care team as well.

Studies indicate healthcare workers with access to nature views are more relaxed and focused with higher rates of job satisfaction and less turnover.  And healthcare workers who feel rejuvenated positively impact every facet of care.

Gavin said she appreciates how all of the images throughout the facility work together to create a cohesive theme. The photographs create a collective tapestry of the community’s spirit and beauty.

And she’s thrilled with the outcome.  She shared how visitors “have made comments about the clarity of the images” and their ability to make you feel “like you’re there,” referring to how the images transport the viewers to these beautiful local places.

She also talked about “the imperfections of the natural beauty,” and how they add to the authentic feel of being outdoors.  Some institutions want every flower to be pristine, but Gavin leaned into the beauty of nature not being perfect.  And while we can make adjustments for blemishes and imperfections, it’s nice to see a facility that values the beauty of nature’s imperfections.

The healing images of the surrounding community transformed Allina Health’s Center for Mental Health and Addiction into a sanctuary of peace, hope, and connection. By thoughtfully selecting and integrating these images, and involving the community in the process, Allina created an environment that not only soothes and uplifts but also fosters a deep sense of belonging and support. This makes the facility more than just a place of treatment—it’s a true part of the community’s fabric, dedicated to healing and recovery.