Webinars
DIMHN Webinars: Shared Learning, Shared Impact
At the Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN), we believe that good design, truly co-produced with the people it serves, leads to better mental health outcomes.
Our webinars bring this philosophy to life, creating year-round opportunities for learning, collaboration and inspiration across the mental health built environment.
They bring together clinicians, estates professionals, architects, designers, researchers, suppliers and people with lived and living experience to explore one shared question:
How can better design help create safer, more therapeutic and more recovery-focused mental health environments?
Catch Up on Previous DiMHN Webinars
All recent Design in Mental Health Network webinars have now taken place, but the learning continues.
You can now explore reflections, recaps, recordings and resources from our past sessions below. We will continue to add webinar summaries, key insights and supporting materials as new sessions take place.
Better Briefs for Better Mental Health Environments
Design in Mental Health Network & Arcadis Lunch & Learn Webinar | May 2026
This webinar explored why better briefing leads to better outcomes in mental health design.
Delivered with Arcadis, the session looked at how strong early-stage briefing can improve collaboration, reduce redesign and help create environments that better support dignity, safety, recovery and wellbeing.
Speakers explored personas, stakeholder mapping, journey mapping and scenario-based thinking as practical tools for more human-centred project outcomes.
The Case for Good Design in Healthcare Environments - Ireland Webinar
Design in Mental Health Network Ireland Webinar | May 2026
This Ireland-focused Lunch & Learn webinar explored how good design can improve safety, support recovery and shape better mental health care.
The session brought together clinical, design, occupational therapy and estates perspectives to consider how environments influence behaviour, emotional regulation, staff wellbeing and therapeutic outcomes.
Key themes included sensory-informed design, retrofit and reuse, access to nature, co-production and the importance of making meaningful improvements within existing buildings.
Designing for Impact: Social Investment & Mental Health Spaces
Design in Mental Health Network & Social Finance Webinar | April 2026
This webinar explored how social investment could support better neighbourhood mental health environments.
The session introduced new funding approaches, practical case studies and evidence-informed perspectives on how design and investment can work together to improve community mental health outcomes.
Lighting for Mental Health Webinar Reflections
From the Science and Practical Implementation to Sustainability | February 2026
This Lunch & Learn webinar explored how lighting in mental health environments can support wellbeing, enable recovery and address sustainability.
Informed by science, real-world experience and sector discussion, the session considered how lighting can influence mood, sleep, safety and therapeutic outcomes.
Sensory-Informed Design in Practice: The Brook Webinar Reflections
Design in Mental Health Network, NHS England South West & Devon Partnership NHS Trust | October 2025
This webinar explored The Brook, a newly completed inpatient unit shaped by sensory-informed design.
The discussion highlighted how lighting, colour, acoustics, materials and co-production can transform inpatient environments into places of dignity, autonomy, recovery and wellbeing.
Why These Webinars Matter
Design in mental health care continues to evolve rapidly.
Our webinars create space for people across the sector to share insight, innovation and practical learning. Through live conversations, case studies and reflections from real projects, we explore how evidence-based, inclusive design can transform healthcare environments.
Whether we are discussing new facilities, existing estates, sensory environments, lighting, social investment, briefing or lived experience, our webinars help connect ideas with action
A Platform for Collaboration
Our webinars are open to Design in Mental Health Network corporate and individual members, as well as the broader healthcare community, who want to learn from best practices and contribute to advancing mental health design.
They also form a key part of our goals to:
- Support our DIMHN members alongside our Design with People in Mind research resource, the Network Magazine, and our annual conference and awards.
- Repurpose and deepen conversations from conference sessions and research.
- Strengthen collaboration between designers, NHS trusts, independent providers and those with lived experience.
- Showcase innovation and celebrate success stories across the mental health built environment.
Get Involved in our Webinars
We are always looking to collaborate with individuals and organisations who share our commitment to improving mental health environments through design.
If you’re interested in co-hosting, presenting, or supporting a webinar, we’d love to hear from you — whether you are:
- Someone who has lived or has living experience who can offer valuable perspectives on co-design and care environments.
- An industry supplier with evidence-based innovation or lessons learned to share
- An NHS trust or healthcare provider keen to present a successful project or new approach to design-led mental health care.
More Webinars Coming Soon
Our next webinar programme will be announced after the Design in Mental Health Conference, Exhibition and Awards in June 2026.
Stay tuned for future Lunch & Learn sessions, sector conversations and practical resources designed to support better mental health environments through good design.
Join us in shaping the future of mental health environments through good design.