Emachi Enaji posted a thoughtful forum piece that I missed back in December (I'm probably used to seeing these in the Blog section above). I wanted to draw attention to his inquiry and two questions that get to the heart of design for care services. One thing Emachi said - in the middle - I'd like to focus on:

" ... finding a means from the design perspective that could make an impact to the discussion, and further provide some way for uniting perspectives and framing the discussions.  This might be the general challenge in creating the conditions for interdisciplinary working, and collaboration.  Importantly in any of  these discussions the views of those who are using services, or are actively engaging their psychological wellbeing, is perhaps the most important - though creating engagement here is a complex and delicate challenge.  Psychological interventions are person-centred in unique ways distinct from other areas of health care services."

The challenge here is creating a context for co-creation of a service orientation that contirbutest to the care of idiosyncratic and complex human situations. I'm not sure we do justice to think of it as Mental Health 2.0, as there never was a 1.0. Mental Health, at least in the US, is a clinical field still wrapped in a long-term practice mode of behavioral management through medication. The unique and complex needs of the person are not regarded with understanding by clinical treatment, and the culture of care does little to move the behavioral patient toward self care and well-being.  The prospects for "care" in an ontological sense of caring for are diminished. Yet if physical concerns emerged these would be treated as legitimate needs. So two questions were raised that deserve response:

1. Understanding what people's stories and needs for their own wellbeing is essential.  Are there any pros & cons when introducing design concepts?

2. Is there any established practice or guidance (in health care design) that might help in determining a workable balance point, and what sorts of design literacy/orientation is need at advancing points along the process?

I'd like to pose this for community response and return to the questions again.