Design to promote mindfulness practice and sense of self for vulnerable women in secure hospital services

Anja Thieme, Jayne Wallace, Paula Johnson, John McCarthy, Siân Lindley, Peter Wright, Patrick Olivier, Thomas D. Meyer

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    65 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In the field of mental health care technologies, very limited attention has been given to the design of interventions for individuals who undergo treatment for severe mental health problems in intense care contexts. Exploring novel designs to engage vulnerable psychiatric patients in therapeutic skills practice and expanding on the potential of technology to promote mental health, the paper introduces the design concept of the Spheres of Wellbeing. A set of interactive artifacts is developed specifically for women with a dual diagnosis of a Learning Disability and Borderline Personality Disorder, living in the medium secure services of a forensic hospital in the UK. The women present a difficult to treat group due to extremely challenging behaviors and a fundamental lack of motivation to engage in therapy. The Spheres are designed to assist the women in practices of mindfulness, to help them tolerate emotional distress and to strengthen their sense of self, all of which are vital components of their specialist treatment Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). The Spheres are intended to supplement the therapy of the women and to contribute to our understanding of designing technology to enhance mental wellbeing and quality of life more generally.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCHI 2013
    Subtitle of host publicationChanging Perspectives, Conference Proceedings - The 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
    Place of PublicationNew York, NY, United States
    PublisherACM
    Pages2647-2656
    Number of pages10
    ISBN (Print)9781450318990
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 27 Apr 2013
    Event31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Changing Perspectives, CHI 2013 - Paris, France
    Duration: 27 Apr 20132 May 2013

    Publication series

    NameConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

    Conference

    Conference31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Changing Perspectives, CHI 2013
    Country/TerritoryFrance
    CityParis
    Period27/04/132/05/13

    Keywords

    • Hospital
    • Interaction design
    • Materiality
    • Mental health technology
    • Mental wellbeing
    • Mindfulness
    • Sense of self

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Design to promote mindfulness practice and sense of self for vulnerable women in secure hospital services'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this