Eco Therapy: A Treatment Center for People with Mental Illnesses Through Green and Tropical Approach

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 2014111360 CONCEPCION, KATRINA JOY F. BS ARCHITECTURE 4-E

 Eco Therapy: A Treatment Center for People with Mental Illnesses Through Green and Tropical Approach

Background of the study 1.7, respectively, per 100,000 members of the

population.

One of the major effect of mental illnesses is to

Human beings received the precious gift from
commit suicide. This thinking occurs when a
Almighty, the privilege to live. Some people are
person is really trying to stop unbearable
just existing but not living. Some people gives
emotional pain. The person is so distressed
importance on the life that the almighty gave,
and overwhelmed by their situation that they
but some are not because some suffer from
cannot see any other option. Often, a suicide
mental illness.
attempt is a cry for help. Suicidal people usually
Mental illness is a serious and wide range of feel terribly isolated. There are often
mental health condition that affect mood, community resources, friends, and family
behavior, and thinking of an individual. Some of ready to help them past what may be the most
the common illness are schizophrenia, difficult period in their lives. The best way to
depression, dementia, bipolar disorder and help them is to provide a healing environment.
anxiety disorders. According to a 2014 report of
According to the University of Minnesota in
the World Health Organization (WHO), there
USA, being in nature, or even viewing scenes
were a total of 2,558 suicide cases due to
of nature, reduces anger, fear, depression, and
mental health problems in the country in 2012
stress and increases pleasant feelings.
alone. And, as reflected on the National Center
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel
for Mental Health’s statistics, the suicide rate
better emotionally, it contributes to your
for men and women in the country are 2.5 and
physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure,

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 2014111360 CONCEPCION, KATRINA JOY F. BS ARCHITECTURE 4-E

 Eco Therapy: A Treatment Center for People with Mental Illnesses Through Green and Tropical Approach

heart rate, muscle tension, and the production

of stress hormones. By this architectural input
Sub-Problems:
in a manner designed to accommodate their
individual needs, behavior will be improved, 1. What kind of facilities does the treatment center

and strongholds are reduced. need to provide for the improvement and recovery
of the patient?
2. What kind of mental disorder does the treatment
Statement of the problem center will cater?

In this part of the research, the focus is to determine the

problem of the study.

As population increases, the suicide rates are

also steadily increasing. People suffering
Goals/Objectives/Strategies
different kinds of mental illness have difficulties
to interact and express their feelings to other. In this part of the research, goals, objectives

Treating them must be tailored to the individual and strategies are stated so that the flow of

user’s requirements with the help of this research will become smooth and clear.

environment to conquer and overcome mental Goal

illnesses. In response to this problem, the study
To come up with a treatment center through
proposes to investigate on how the treatment
healing environment using indoor and outdoor
center will help the mental ill people fight their
facilities wherein the built environment helps to
battle through healing environment.
the healing process of the patient, a place
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 2014111360 CONCEPCION, KATRINA JOY F. BS ARCHITECTURE 4-E
 Eco Therapy: A Treatment Center for People with Mental Illnesses Through Green and Tropical Approach

specifically designed and created for the To provide indoor and outdoor facilities that will help the
healing development of the users. patient to overcome and conquer their illness.

Objective 1.

To determine the effects of environment to the healing Strategies

process of the patient.
1. Research possible facilities that the patient will
Strategies engaged in.
2. Research about the behavior of patient when it
1. Research on what does the environment has to
comes to outdoor and indoor activities.
become an instrument in healing mental ill people.
2. Conduct an interview from a person
suffering mental illness and ask what Objective 3.
are the effects on their behavior when
To come up with a healing environment that heals mental
they are exposed to nature.
ill people.
3. To have a better understanding on
how people with mental disorder Strategies

reacts or how they are affected by 1. Determine the kinds of mental disorder that are
the environment they are moving in. applicable to the subject matter.
2. Study the behavior of each mental disorder and

Objective 2. evaluate if it is applicable to the healing

environment.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 2014111360 CONCEPCION, KATRINA JOY F. BS ARCHITECTURE 4-E