The design of counselling and wellness spaces on university campuses

Abstract

In the contemporary era, university students are undergoing a period of transition that is characterised by a multitude of challenges. The departure from the home environment is accompanied by the commitment to the new academic organisation and the planning for the future. If this phase is not adequately processed by students, there is a risk of compromising their emotional equilibrium, with repercussions for both their academic performance and their psychophysical well-being.The objective of this project is to foster the psycho-physical well-being of the university student community by preventing and counteracting risky behaviour and promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles. This will be achieved by designing counselling and wellness spaces and resting rooms on university campuses.The present article has been written with the aim of providing structuring primary prevention interventions through the design of indoor and outdoor spaces, easily modifiable and adaptable to host the various activities envisaged, and the setting up of resting rooms functional to psycho-physical recovery. It presents preliminary findings from the research undertaken within the MOEBIUS PRO-BEN project, which also explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to extend the benefits of outdoor green spaces to indoor counselling areas.The research undertaken within the MOEBIUS PRO-BEN project leverages the capabilities of the metaverse to facilitate immersive, multi-sensory experiences that enhance the connection between students and positive well-being, while creating innovative counselling rooms and wellness areas.This study is inherently interdisciplinary, merging fields such as psychological well-being and mental health technology with architecture and design for health. By incorporating AI-driven solutions and the immersive potential of the metaverse, the project explores how technology can be integrated into the physical and virtual environments of counselling spaces to create dynamic, adaptable settings. These spaces are designed not only to support emotional equilibrium but also to engage students in meaningful, therapeutic experiences. The interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between psychological health interventions, environmental design, and technological innovations, ultimately aiming to improve the overall psycho-physical well-being of students in a modern university setting.

Keywords: Mental health technology, Environmental design, Counselling spaces, Psychophysical well-being

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006025