The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn has adversely affected the mental health of the nation and has created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. This phenomenon has resulted in a second public health emergency—a global mental health crisis. We continue to see an increase in mental health issues among the general population while organizations begin to plan ahead as demands begin to elevate. What is being done to help meet this coming surge? A significant emphasis has been placed on telehealth to deliver care across the entire behavioral health continuum of care now and into the future. As patients and mental health professionals become accustomed to technological advancements related to this area, the more realistic this type of remote therapy becomes. Due to this increased demand and wide acceptance of telemental health services, design and construction solutions need to adapt to the mass adoption of this platform. This webinar examines how behavioral health facilities can prepare for the future of mental healthcare delivery.
Experts
Anosha Zanjani is a behavioral health designer and researcher based out of the HDR Los Angeles studio. Prior to her career in architecture, she had an established career in the mental health field. After earning a Bachelor of Science with honors in psychology and neuroscience from the University of Toronto, she went on to work in psychiatric facilities, private practice and academic institutions, where she conducted clinical research and worked directly with patients suffering from severe mental health disorders. Anosha has lectured at international conferences and her research has been published in over a dozen of the world’s top peer-reviewed journals in psychology and psychiatry.
As behavioral and mental health practice leader, Brian has a deep understanding of current research and trends in mental health design and uses his expertise to create innovative, research-based solutions that improve the patient experience in healthcare environments. Brian has served as the mental health expert on numerous projects around the world, holding roles in planning, design, and consulting for inpatient, outpatient, community, and crisis services, guiding project teams towards improved outcomes in mental health environments.
At HDR, Brian leads the behavioral health design studio, introducing current trends and design strategies to a broader team and works with smaller focus groups to discuss and develop strategies to improve the mental healthcare environment for patients and staff. Brian has presented on the topic of behavioral and mental health at multiple conferences around the country and is a consistent contributor to thought leadership in his field.
Brian enjoys finding opportunities to share his passion and expertise with the next generation of architects and designers in his local community. He is an active participant in the FGI Health Guidelines Revision Committee, focusing on behavioral health design. He is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Kansas, has served as a design critic and juror for multiple design studios focused on mental health, and contributes to an AIA advocacy committee on mental health design. He mentors colleagues throughout HDR as well as architecture and design students at numerous universities including University of Kansas, University of Minnesota, and Rochester Institute of Technology.