Design of Behavioral Health Crisis Units

This white paper supports the minimum requirements for behavioral health crisis units included in the 2022 Hospital and Outpatient Guidelines documents. It describes the need for dedicated facilities where emergency services can be rendered to stabilize behavioral and mental health patients in crisis and provides design guidance for the creation of such a healing space beyond the minimum requirements in the 2022 Guidelines. It is intended as a resource for a range of stakeholders in the design, construction, regulation, and operation of a behavioral health crisis unit.

Design of Behavioral Health Crisis Units