25 Nov, 2025
Pineapple’s Daniel White is joined in conversation by Melissa Steach, who is not only an industrial-organisational psychologist and behavioural health design strategist, but also Pineapple’s Regional Engagement Manager.
Daniel and Melissa explore the impact of ergonomics on patient outcomes in mental health settings, a topic that reaches across design, safety and human wellbeing.
Thoughtful ergonomic design extends beyond comfort, by influencing mood, behaviour, recovery and the overall therapeutic experience. From furniture design and placement to sensory consideration given to materials, posture support and movement patterns, these details all shape how patients and care givers interact with their environment.
Bringing her uniquely interdisciplinary lens to behavioural health design, Melissa unpacks how smart, evidence-based ergonomic choices can create safer, calmer and more empowering spaces that truly support healing.
Dr Melissa Steach is an industrial-organisational psychologist and behavioural health design strategist whose research-driven work bridges environmental psychology, trauma-informed care, and design for emotional regulation. In her role at Pineapple, she collaborates with healthcare systems, architects, and clinical teams to create therapeutic environments that reduce harm and support staff resilience. A recognised speaker and educator, her insights on psychological safety, macro-ergonomics, and de-escalation environments have reached global audiences through LinkedIn Learning and national industry conferences.
