People living in big cities are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse. For the authors of this new study, there is an urgent need to better understand the interaction between the increase in the incidence of these mental disorders and urban growth.
- Exposure to pollution and noise, lack of greenery or even financial insecurity are all factors that increase the incidence of mental disorders among city dwellers.
- However, the study shows that there are levers for action to improve the mental health of city dwellers, in particular by focusing on sustainable development and creating green spaces.
Rich cultural life, proximity to public services, easy access to public transport, job prospects… Living in a big city has real advantages for city dwellers. But this also has its drawbacks.
In a new study published on October 7 in The Lancet Psychiatryresearchers from the Center for Urban Mental Health at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) in the Netherlands, demonstrate that in countries with relatively high numbers of city dwellers, certain psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, are generally more common.
“City living is attractive in many ways, but it also has various unintended drawbacks, explains Junus van der Wal, lead author of this study. Much knowledge has been accumulated on the extent to which these disadvantages are associated with mental disorders. But to truly understand the effects of living in a busy city on mental health, it is necessary to study all of these factors.”
A fictional scenario
To better understand the factors influencing the urban environment and the mental well-being of city dwellers, the researchers developed a fictional scenario: this focuses on the life of Jane, a young woman living in a big city, in a neighborhood where there is little greenery. His apartment is located near a busy road. The researchers also endowed her with a low income, which means she is often stressed about money. The constant traffic noise disturbs his sleep and causes insomnia. His professional performance suffers, which further increases his financial stress. Also, air pollution from traffic on the busy road can affect Jane’s brain function.
The researchers also showed that if many people in the neighborhood have mental health problems, this can also have a negative impact on the social cohesion of the neighborhood, which can in turn have a negative effect on the residents.
Sustainable development, a solution for urban pollution and mental health
However, it is possible to reduce the incidence of mental disorders among urban dwellers. The study thus shows that if the municipality where Jane lives invested in sustainable development, for example by creating a park between the building where Jane lives and the busy road, this could not only help Jane, but also the other inhabitants of this district. This type of intervention could reduce stress and traffic jams, possibly strengthening social cohesion in the neighborhood and helping to combat air pollution.
“In our synthesis paper, we present a new conceptual framework for all future research on mental health in the urban environment. Only this approach will allow us to see how all factors interact and affect individuals, and also to propose targeted interventions and treatments to improve the mental health of urban dwellers”explains Reinout Wiers, professor of developmental psychopathology and co-director of the Center for Urban Mental Health.
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