Sensory & Mental Health Care
A ‘Sensory Environment’ is an umbrella term used to categorise a variety of sensory spaces specially designed to positively impact...
Read articleThere is so much more to the world of ‘Sensory’ than people may originally think. A ‘Sensory Room’ is an umbrella term used to categorise a variety of sensory spaces specially designed to impact specific needs and disabilities positively.
Recently it has become increasingly apparent how beneficial sensory rooms can be for people suffering with mental illnesses within schools, care units, prisons and many other rehabilitation centres incorporating sensory solutions into their environments.
Calming Rooms are the most commonly used sensory rooms in Mental Health.
The main purpose of a Sensory Room is to create an environment where everyday distractions are removed and relaxation and concentration are encouraged. Unlike a Sensory Room, a Calming Room’s main objective is not to stimulate but to provide a gentle road mental escape in a safe and secure environment.
Creating an environment where internal behavioural control is valued, taught and rewarded.
There are two important things to remember when it comes to Calming Room. Firstly, only use a sensory room before or after a crisis, NEVER during! And secondly, each room is designed for personal, one-on-one staff to client engagement – not room for big social groups.
Over the years, there have been many debates and different opinions surrounding seclusion methods vs multi-sensory therapies. Here are a few points to consider:
Seclusion Isolates:
Multi-Sensory Engages:
Start making mental notes of early warning signs to better prepare yourself for when to intervene to prevent further escalation.
It is important that your Calming Room incorporates a mixture of the following resources to suit a number of user needs and to stimulate mentally and physically:
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Mental Health covers such a wide spectrum, and there are so many different therapies and sensory solutions available to help. Sometimes it can prove very difficult to decide which direction is best to go for each individual patient. This is where companies like Rhino UK can help, with over 40 years of experience creating sensory environments for a wide variety of needs and circumstances. If we can be of any further assistance in helping you to decide on the best solutions, please get in touch!