This project is a human-centered, participatory design project developed to explore the personal and mental health experiences of Forensicare patients. Embedded within Forensicare and the Thomas Embling hospital, I have designed an intervention that responds to the need for alternative communication rehabilitation for patients.

The intervention involves working within the mental health services at Forensicare and expanding their upskilling rehabilitation activities to include letter writing. The postcards service of care mail, which helps to rebuild the bridges of communication to reconnect and support their relationships with the outside world. Letter writing can be seen as a dying art to most, however to these patients and connections is a tactile and visual element of a small treasure, which can be a held as a connection to exploring reflection and memories. This can be meaningful and establish significant moments to a relationship, which can always be reminisced upon when times get tough.

To support this intervention, I have developed a series of postcards. Which will provide a safe environment and conditions for all to write and express their feelings during their journey of hope. This can establish a beautiful connection which has created a culture shift in the practice of care and safety, by supporting all parties through diverse sensitive stages and circumstances. The postcards humanize dignity, by bringing back an element of normality through message expression. Understanding that nobody is perfect or has crystal clear communication 100% of the time. Time goes on and people misunderstand each other, which is normal. Communication is a working progress and a skill needed to be learned during the recovery of wellbeing.

With each postcard being unique, these can never to be repeated in quite the same way as it doesn’t get simultaneously sent like a text or an email. These postcards are intimate, as the receiver will know the writer has physically touched it and taken time to personalize the card, to send the vital message. It’s the perfect form of communication and visualization at that point in time. Which creates a sense of co-presence and being linked with one another at a given time, at two different places, by holding the postcard within one’s hand.