Call for papers: new journal for urban design and mental health

The Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health is planning to launch a new, biannual journal in early 2016.

This online journal will help address the challenge of there not being many journals explicitly publishing research on the links between urban design and mental health right now. We plan to run thematic editions,  the first of which will focus on the concept of 'conscious cities', building on the op-ed that UD/MH fellow Itai Palti recently authored with Moshe Bar in The Guardian; Itai Palti will be our guest editor for this first edition.

A 'conscious city' builds on the idea of a 'smart city', combining data, technology and planning techniques to improve urban mental health and well-being. We are seeking submissions from architects, planners, policymakers, psychiatrists, psychologists, public health practitioners, and others that address one of two questions:

• How can cities better measure/capture/understand the mental health needs of their populations that could be addressed through urban design?
• How can cities use that knowledge to improve mental health through urban design?

Do you have a relevant research paper, case study, review, comment piece, photograph, book review or other relevant content, (or a good suggestion for the journal's name)? If yes, please submit for consideration to layla@urbandesignmentalhealth.com along with your name, place of work/study, and your current location. See below for technical details. Submission deadline: 11th December

FURTHER DETAILS AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
This journal is not currently peer-reviewed. Editorial decisions will be made by Layla McCay (UD/MH Director) and Itai Palti (UD/MH Fellow and Guest Editor of the edition). The journal will be open-access. The style of writing and terminology should be clear, succinct, interesting, and accessible to multi-disciplinary professionals including scientists, psychologists, architects, planners, interior designers, planners, policymakers, etc.

Research papers: up to 4,000 words (and note we value succinct writing). Please include a 200-300 word abstract including introduction, methods, results, conclusion, and a short comment on what your findings mean practically for those working in urban design/mental health. Please include 1-3 relevant photographs (with description and any attributions). Please ensure your paper is fully referenced, with a link associated with each reference.

Comment pieces/op-eds: up to 600 words, including photographs where relevant.

Case studies: up to 300 words, and please include 1-3 photographs (with description and any attributions)

Book reviews: up to 300 words

Other: please get in touch with us to discuss format of other article types