Urban public spaces have great potential when it comes to aiding mental health recovery. The findings
from this research demonstrate how urban public open space hosts a variety of interactions, experiences
and opportunities that can contribute to a journey of recovery from a state of ill mental health. They are
the venue for a range of MOHO ‘occupations’ and enable development of Volition, Performance Capacity
and Habituation, according to the MOHO, and should be considered as such by urban designers.
Desirable places were places where participants could get away from others, ‘switch off’ or find
distraction and diversion. Urban open spaces were high-stimulus environments for participants.
Recovery is linked to a process of graduated exposure over time, and offering small retreat-like spaces
in the public realm gives a chance to manage exposure. Autonomous urban landscape-related projects,
such as shared allotments, gardening and arts programmes provide a welcoming, controlled space for
retreat for service users and should be supported in urban spatial and health care planning. Restorative
benefits were found in small areas of neighbourhood green space or green ‘pockets’ as they offered an
immersive, sensory experience.
Managing speeds and flows of movement in a space can aid mental health recovery. Navigation
and information points are valuable assets, and people felt more comfortable if they had a chance to
orientate themselves and had clear entry and escape routes. Active edges and busy streets may be a
sign of a socially active urban area, but are potentially very intimidating for people experiencing mental
health problems. Urban design that incorporates busy markets, street front cafes and commercial spaces
does not suit everyone.