The human mind and body are amazing feats of nature. They are both equipped to do incredible things, but as a result of stress, it is very possible that health issues could occur. In the case of our wellbeing and mental health, in the same way that we recommend eating healthily and regular exercise to prevent disease in the body, we must encourage health in the mind to protect our psychological wellbeing and avoid the development of conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and many others.
In our increasingly fast-paced society, quiet rooms are becoming important as an antidote to the effects of our busy, overstimulating, and often stressful work life. Although the idea sounds deceptively simple; a room to sit in quietly, studies show that people who use them regularly are demonstrably healthier, more productive, and better equipped to handle the stresses of life than if they allowed their anxieties and worries to build up in the back of the mind. Sometimes, all we need is a breather. If we are stripped of our ability to process the day, meditate, or reflect, these stresses build up and can lead to harmful disorders. Quiet and sensory rooms are much more than silent spaces, they offer us a solution to short-term issues that grow out of proportion.
One place quiet rooms are becoming increasingly common is in the corporate world. Direct Access has provided accessibility audits which has led to the installation of several of them in hubs such as London, Manchester, and even on public transport systems. We were responsible for Avanti West Coast’s first-ever Quiet Room for autistic travellers, built for the UK rail network at Crewe, which has seen consistent use since installation.
In the work environment, it is recommended as a rule that a quiet room or similar space should be available for every six employees, as a sanctuary where people can chill out, do yoga, contemplate, or just let their minds wander. For employers, the benefits are perhaps even greater than employees. As a happy workforce generally encourages more productive workers, providing a quiet room also demonstrates tolerance and an understanding that an employee’s mental health is important to maintain. Due to the unfortunate landscape when it comes to the housing market, people generally have fewer calm spaces to go to these days, particularly in cities with fewer green spaces, for which quiet rooms act as a universal solution. Research has even shown that workers are much more likely to leave offices and similar places of employment if they are especially loud.
So, what do quiet rooms look like? Check out the example in the video below that we installed in the Mediabrands London offices. This is one of many possible designs for quiet rooms. You can replace the soft furniture with bean bags, soundproof the walls, or have lower/mood lighting if preferred.
However, the key part of a good quiet room is to offer mental health reprieve to everyone, regardless of their personal ability. As a place designed to be accessible to everyone, a single quiet room might offer a person the space they need to get through their day and avoid the development of neurological disabilities in the future.
The mind has a remarkable memory and imagination, so we must protect our health from the effects of life and its necessary stresses. While we have come a long way as a society in actively discussing depression and anxiety and supporting those who live with these conditions, the fact remains that not enough is being done to combat the mental health epidemic. We must go further in our society to actively prevent disability in addition to accommodating people who have the right to live equally with their disabilities.
If you own a facility or are part of an organisation that is considering installing Quiet Room(s), get in touch with Direct Access today. Our Consultancy team will ensure that you take the steps to not only do the right thing within your budget but also open the door to the social and financial benefits that come only because of creating an accessible and inclusive environment for disabled people.
