From Plans to Practice - What Mental Health Spaces Need to Work in the Real World

Mental health environments are often designed with the best intentions, but the real test comes after opening day, when people, pressure, and unpredictability enter the space. Join Pineapple's Michelle Blackie and her guest Stacey Johnson, Hospital President and Vice President at Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center in Virginia, USA, as they discuss what actually works in the real world - exploring how design, operations, and community intersect in mental health care, and what designers can learn from lived experience.

Our Guest: 

Stacey Johnson, Hospital President/VP of Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center

 Stacey Johnson, LCSW, MBA is the Hospital President/VP of Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center in Hampton, Virginia. RMHRC is part of the Riverside Health System that offers a comprehensive range of medical services. Stacey has over 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field with prominent authority on the development and operation of behavioral health and addiction treatment programs. She started her career as a social worker, which provides a unique perspective now that she works primarily in administration. Stacey’s passion is to be able to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of all individuals as well as reducing stigma associated with mental illness. She hopes to break down the barrier to treatment and open the door to discuss mental health in a positive way while working to provide innovative and community centered treatment options. 

This episode is hosted by Pineapple, creators of mindfully designed furniture for behavioral and mental health environments.