Design for Healthcare Environments Ireland (DHEI)
Design for Healthcare Environments Ireland (DHEI) - Conference & Exhibition
RDS, Dublin | 29-30th September 2026
Improving Mental Health, Intellectual Disability & Autism Environments Together
Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN), in partnership with Step Exhibitions, is proud to bring Design for Healthcare Environments Ireland (DHEI), a new conference and exhibition dedicated to improving mental health, intellectual disability (ID), and autism environments through thoughtful, co-produced, and evidence-informed design.
This will take place at the RDS in Dublin on 29th and 30th September 2026. It will provide practical solutions, innovative approaches, evidence-informed design, and co-produced strategies to support care environments to be safer and more therapeutic.
Be Part of It
We invite clinicians, designers, managers, suppliers, EFM Professionals, and advocates to help shape mental health and ID environments in Ireland at this conference and exhibition.
🗓️ Conference & Exhibition: 29-30th September 2026
📍 Venue: RDS, Dublin
Why Ireland? Why Now?
Following collaboration and conversations with delegates who were attending our Design in Mental Health Network UK conferences, exhibitions, events, and webinars, it became clear that there is a strong appetite for a dedicated, locally relevant conference and exhibition in Ireland, informed by local priorities and providers.
Design for Healthcare Environments Ireland provides a platform for sharing local and international learning, connecting practitioners, policymakers, designers, providers and suppliers to translate insight into practical change, with direct access to innovative products, services, suppliers and expertise that support better-designed healthcare environments.
As Ireland continues to invest in transforming its Healthcare environments, this event will provide practical solutions, innovative approaches, evidence-informed practice, and co-produced approaches to support care environments to be safer and more therapeutic.
We are working closely with Irish clinicians, occupational therapists, estates teams, and people with lived experience to help accelerate innovation and shape this conference and exhibition with purpose.
National Investment in Mental Health Infrastructure
Ireland’s 2026 Capital Plan signals significant national investment in mental health infrastructure, reinforcing the importance of design quality, therapeutic environments, and modernised facilities.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, stated in relation to the 2026 Capital Plan:
“The investment set out in the Capital Plan for 2026 reaffirms our commitment to deliver improved mental health infrastructure in line with national mental health policy.
This year’s plan prioritises the development of the Perinatal Mental Health Unit for new mothers, specialist Eating Disorder beds for adults, and the progression of six priority Acute Mental Health Units around the country.
There has never been more momentum behind transforming the mental health capital estate, with unprecedented levels of funding being made available to the HSE.
This investment will ensure people experiencing mental illness will access services in safe, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environments.”
– Source.
DHEI is an independent event and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Health or the HSE.
Who Is This Event For?
Design for Healthcare Environments Ireland is for anyone who plays a role in creating, refurbishing, commissioning, managing, and using healthcare environments:
- HSE and independent sector professionals: Capital & Estates teams, clinicians, site managers
- Designers, architects, and planners
- People with lived experience
- Regulators & Inspectors
- Suppliers and manufacturers of products for MH and ID settings
- VCSE & community providers
- Academic, research, and policy stakeholders
Goals of the Conference & Exhibition
At the event, we will:
- Provide practical solutions, innovative approaches, evidence‑informed practice, and co‑produced methods to support care environments to be safer and more therapeutic.
- Include demonstrations and discussions on products and solutions for designing, refurbishing and equipping mental health, intellectual disability and broader healthcare environments.
- Offer a collaborative forum for professionals and people with lived experience to share knowledge, test ideas and learn from real‑world examples and human-centred design.
The Exhibition
We will host a specialist exhibition focused on the design, refurbishment and equipping of:
- Mental health environments
- Intellectual disability residential and day services
- Autism-supportive settings
- Secure and semi-secure care environments
- Community-based healthcare spaces
The exhibition will showcase safety-compliant products, sensory-informed design solutions, durable residential fittings and practical innovations aligned with Irish regulatory standards. Visitors keen to source solutions will have the opportunity to engage directly with manufacturers and specialist suppliers all in one place.
Organisations looking to engage with Irish healthcare decision-makers shaping Ireland’s healthcare infrastructure investment, can enquire for more information about exhibiting.
Call for Presentations Now Open!
We are seeking speakers and contributors to share real-world insights, research, and innovation in the design of environments for mental health, intellectual disability, and autism.
Be Part of It
We invite clinicians, designers, managers, suppliers, and advocates to help shape mental health, ID, and Autism environments in Ireland.
🗓️ Dates for your diary: 29-30th September 2026
📍 Venue: RDS, Dublin
About the Design in Mental Health Network charity
Design in Mental Health Network (DIMHN) is a charity dedicated to improving mental health outcomes through better design. We champion co-production, evidence-informed design, and interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together clinicians, estates leaders, architects, researchers, product designers, and people with lived experience.
We provide:
- Free membership for individuals and professionals who are from the public sector, lived experience experts, or charities
- Events, publications, and best practice guidance
- A supportive network advancing design quality and safety across mental health and all challenging environments.
In Collaboration With
Step Exhibitions Ltd
Step Exhibitions Ltd are the international conference and exhibition specialists behind the UK’s Design in Mental Health Conference and Exhibition. Their team is managing the delivery of the conference and exhibition.
Conference Advisory Group
Our advisory team comprises passionate HSE clinicians and designers. They help guide the DHEI agenda to ensure relevance and quality.
Partner with Us
The Design in Mental Health Network charity is actively seeking to build lasting connections with Ireland’s community of mental health, Intellectual Disability (ID), and Autism organisations, advocates, and professionals.
If you’re part of a national or local organisation working in mental health, Intellectual disability, Autism, or community design, we would love to hear from you.