The demand for mental and behavioral health services continues to rise, with 43 percent of U.S. adults reporting high anxiety in 2024—up from 32% in 2022—and one in four adults seeking mental health care in the past year. As mental health challenges grow, so does the need for facilities designed specifically to support safe and effective treatment.

Designing for mental and behavioral health care requires more than the standard healthcare design approach. Facilities must ensure clear sight lines, minimize ligature risks, and reduce unnecessary noise—while also creating a safe, calming environment for patients and staff.

Behavioral Health Treatment Requires the Right Materials

Glazing systems play a critical role in ensuring patient safety and well-being in mental and behavioral health settings. That’s why Unicel Architectural’s Vision Control® for Behavioral Health (VC for BH) is the ideal solution.

VC for BH builds upon the proven performance of Vision Control’s award-winning, hermetically sealed IGU and enhances it for behavioral health applications by adding impact-resistant glazing and ligature-resistant operators. The integrated louvers help mitigate the risk of self-harm, while the system’s robust construction meets the American Architectural Manufacturers’ Association (AAMA) 501.8 standard for resistance to human impacts (up to 2,000 ft-lbs).

Vision Control® for Behavioral Health

VC for BH is engineered to withstand violent human impacts while allowing hospital staff to discreetly monitor patients and adjust louvers for privacy, natural light, and solar heat gain throughout the day. It is suitable for both interior and exterior applications.

It has passed AAMA’s 501.8 standard industry test to gauge the impact resistance of window systems for use in psychiatric facilities.

System Features:

• AAMA 501.8-certified, impact-resistant glazing system with deep aluminum frames and specialty glass stops
• Double-glazed insulating unit with a two-inch airspace and integrated precision louvers
• Ligature-resistant operator options with self-reversing functionality:
  • Comfort Plus Ligature-Resistant Knob (ADA compliant)
  • Compact Ligature-Resistant Knob
  • Touchless Sensor (ADA compliant)
• Helps control thermal heat gain and supports LEED requirements when used in exterior applications

Key Benefits:

• Impact resistance: Protects against shattering in case of violent human impacts
• Integrated, cord-free louvers: Eliminate ligature risks while controlling privacy, heat, light, and noise (louvers fully closed provide 100% vision blocking)
• Acoustic performance: Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating comparable to concrete block walls
• Flexible design: Can be oriented horizontally or vertically and adapted to a wide range of facades, including punched openings and strip windows
• Low maintenance: Integrated louvers are fully sealed within the unit, eliminating the need for cleaning or servicing

With Vision Control® for Behavioral Health, you can create safer, more functional spaces for mental and behavioral health care—without compromising on privacy, comfort, or performance.