From Asylum To Healing Environments:A Comparative Study Of Mental Health Architecture With National And International Case Studies

Abstract

Ideas about architecture, health beliefs, and existing societal perspectives all have a significant impact on the provision of mental health care. The architecture of mental health facilities in Pakistan is still influenced by outdated colonial concepts that prioritise control and segregation over empathy and decency. This study investigates the evolution of mental healthcare in Pakistan from an architectural standpoint. It looks at how the treatment methods evolved between the pre-colonial native practices to asylum systems during the colonial rule and lastly to the establishment of mental health facilities in the post-colonial period. Besides similar sites in Sweden, Denmark and the US, we consider examples of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) and Fountain House in Lahore. The paper suggests that there exists a disparity between the traditional care systems which are often observable in Pakistan and the modern approaches of developing recovery programs which are applied in the world.The study emphasises how environments that are grounded in science, created with individuals in mind, and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings can enhance mental health.By contrasting different architectural styles, it achieves this. By considering current mental health practices, local culture, and environment, the findings are meant to help in the planning of future mental health facilities in Pakistan.

Key Words:Mental health architecture, psychiatric hospitals, healing environments, Pakistan, institutional design, comparative study.