I was an inpatient on a mental health ward – here’s what needs to change

There’s widespread agreement that improvements are needed, but the question is: where do we begin?

As someone who’s experienced the mental healthcare system first-hand – and who now works to improve it as an expert by experience – I believe the answers must start with those who have lived it.

While studying law at university, I spent a lot of time thinking about rights, structure, and accountability. But when I became an inpatient, those principles often felt absent.

Here are five shifts I believe are needed to help inpatient mental health services better support the people they serve.

1. Bring more compassion into everyday interactions

One of the most distressing moments during my admission was being medicated forcibly with very little explanation. When you’re in a vulnerable state, an experience like this can be deeply disorienting.

It might have felt very different if someone had been able to sit with me, explain what was happening and offer a reassuring voice. A simple “How are you feeling?” can go a long way in moments like that. But I know staff are often under pressure, with limited time and support. We need to give them the space, training, and confidence to bring empathy into these interactions.

2. Understand what safety means to service users

The word “safety” can mean very different things to staff and patients. For staff, it often means locked doors and risk management protocols. For patients, it means being able to retreat when you’re overwhelmed, and knowing you’ll be protected if things go wrong.

I was once attacked by another patient. My room was locked, and I couldn’t get anyone’s attention in the nurses’ station, so I ended up hiding in someone else’s room to feel safe. Later, the incident was treated as something that just happens on mental health wards, but it’s not something anyone should accept as normal.

3. Create environments that support recovery, not just containment

The physical environment of a ward actively shapes how you feel, just like it would if it were your home or a hotel. The one I stayed on had poor air flow, harsh lighting, and restricted access to the garden, which was the only place I felt calm. Being outside in nature is so important when you’re unwell. Inpatient wards should feel soothing: fresh air, natural light, soft colours, and small touches like plants or artwork can make all the difference.

But recovery isn’t just about the surroundings – it’s also about how you spend your time. Too often, there’s very little to do. The TV might be on but with no sound or subtitles, and newspapers and magazines are usually out of date. Activities like mindfulness, games and gardening can help you reconnect with yourself and the world beyond the ward. Having leave to go spend a few hours with family can also be incredibly beneficial.

4. Use technology to build a fuller picture of people’s needs

Technology has an important part to play on mental health wards. Many hospitals now store notes digitally, which can help staff access up-to-date information more easily. Tools that track things like vital signs or patterns of activity can also give staff a more complete picture of how someone’s doing. The information can even be shared with families and carers. Technology can be used by staff to review incidents more accurately too, which is something I would have really valued during my own admission.

Some people may feel unsure about being monitored, and that needs to be handled with care. It’s important that service users are given clear information about any technology being used on the ward, and the chance to ask questions and have their say. If someone’s too overwhelmed to take everything in straight away, the conversation should be revisited later when they’re more comfortable and ready to engage.

5. Value insight from lived experience – both past and present

I’ve seen real change happen when staff and decision-makers genuinely listen. When I was an inpatient, a few well-placed conversations led to mindfulness, a bingo game and origami sessions. Small things, maybe, but they helped us feel more human. I was also given more access to the garden, but only after agreeing to take medication, which is something I hope will be changed in the future.

Lived experience shouldn’t be a tick-box exercise. It should be central to how we design services, train staff, and measure success. We’ve been through it – we know what helps and what harms. And we want to be part of the solution.