Work with us
At the Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN), we’re building a dynamic, inclusive community dedicated to transforming the environments where mental health care and support happen.
Since 2006, DiMHN has brought together people from mental healthcare, architecture, design, manufacturing, academia, and lived experience to shape safer, more therapeutic spaces for those accessing mental health services and support.
Good design is not just about how a space looks; it’s about how it makes people feel.
We believe environments should reduce distress, foster dignity, and play an active role in supporting individuals’ mental health and wellbeing.
We are always looking for passionate individuals and organisations to join us in this important work. Whether you are looking to volunteer, become a Trustee, partner with us, or engage with our growing community, there are many ways you can make a meaningful impact.
Opportunities to Work With Us
1. Become a Trustee (Voluntary Position)
Joining our Board of Trustees is a unique and impactful way to contribute to our purpose. As a Trustee, you will play a key role in guiding our strategic direction and ensuring that we continue to raise the standard of mental health environments across the UK and beyond.
You don’t need previous board experience; what matters is your relevant background and your commitment to improving mental health through better design.
2. Volunteer Associates
At DiMHN, we are always excited to engage with passionate individuals who want to contribute to our purpose of improving mental health outcomes through better design. While we are not currently actively recruiting for Volunteer Associates, we encourage those interested to get in touch and explore how they might become involved.
You can also find out more about our current associates here >
As a Volunteer Associate, you will play an important role in helping us achieve our goals. By contributing your professional insights and leveraging your networks, you’ll support us in growing our reach and impact. We are looking for people who are passionate, proactive, and eager to get involved in shaping the future of mental health care through design.
If you have a passion for creating compassionate, human-centred spaces and want to help drive positive change in the mental health sector, we welcome you to contact us for further discussion.
What You Can Do as Associate:
- Represent DiMHN within your networks and at key events.
- Contribute to one or more of our strategic workstreams, whether by attending meetings, providing input on papers, or supporting key projects.
- Help us identify new opportunities to grow income, partnerships, visibility, or influence in the sector.
- Contribute thought leadership via articles, speaking engagements, or webinars.
- Advocate for the importance of inclusive, evidence-based design in mental health environments.
- Attend our annual conference and take part in shaping sessions, contributing as a chair, advocate, or facilitator.
Key Workstreams You Might Support:
- Membership & Marketing – Promoting our mission and expanding our community.
- Conference & Events – Shaping the strategy and engagement for our events.
- Informed Choices – Supporting more informed product selection for mental health spaces.
- Research & Education – Sharing valuable research and turning evidence into practice.
- International – Building partnerships and growing our global impact.
- Lived Experience – Ensuring lived experience is at the heart of our work.
If you feel aligned with our purpose and would like to learn more about becoming a Volunteer Associate, please reach out to our CEO, Charlotte Burrows, for an informal conversation >
3. Support Our Annual Conference & Awards
Introduction to the Design in Mental Health Conference
Design in Mental Health is the annual Conference, Exhibition and Awards dedicated to advancing good design in mental health settings. Each year, we bring together people from healthcare, architecture, design, manufacturing, academia, and lived experience to champion innovation and good design and tackle shared challenges to achieve safer, more therapeutic spaces.
To ensure the event continues to reflect the most pressing priorities across sectors and maintains its leadership position, we are guided and supported by a Conference Advisory Group (CAG) comprising committed, well-connected individuals who care deeply about creating better mental health environments.
Members of the Conference Advisory Group play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction, themes, and delivery of the annual Design in Mental Health Conference. Their expertise and insight will help ensure the programme is relevant, balanced, inclusive, innovative, and grounded in real-world challenges.
Partner with us
We welcome collaborations with like-minded organisations, whether that means co-hosting events, contributing to research projects, or exploring other innovative initiatives that align with our purpose.
By working together, we can amplify our collective impact and help shape the future of mental health environments.
Join the Design In Mental Health Network
Whether you are an individual or an organisation, becoming a member of the Network gives you access to a community of experts committed to advancing mental health through good design. You’ll gain access to exclusive resources, events, and opportunities to connect with others who share your passion for creating better environments.
