SANITY AND URBANITY BLOG
If you are an academic, urban designer, planner, health professional or citymaker, and would like to submit a blog, please see submission guidelines.
by Layla McCay, UD/MH Director An important new report on urban design and mental health, Urban Sanity: Understanding Urban Mental Health Impacts and How to Create Saner, Happier Cities, has just been published by the Victoria Transport Institute in Canada. The report evaluates the evidence that links urban design and mental health, and uses these specific links to propose policy recommendations. The report author, Todd Litman, asserts that cities generally provide good opportunities for people to thrive - yet research tells us that people who live in cities have an increased risk of psychosis, mood disorders, cocaine and heroin addiction and unhappiness (though a lower risk of dementia, alcohol abuse and suicide) compared to rural dwellers. Why? And what can we do about it? The premise of the report is that urban living in itself does not cause mental disorders or even make people unhappy - rather, city life seems to be associated with increased mental health problems for two principal reasons:
The report identifies factors that are particularly associated with the increased risk of mental illness in the city:
Design and Policy recommendations from the report The report makes specific design and policy recommendations to address the urban risk factors for mental illness identified in the report, replicated here: Targeted social service: Recognize that cities tend to attract people with elevated mental illness risks, and provide appropriate mental health, housing and substance abuse treatment services. Affordability: Improve affordable urban housing and transportation options (walking, cycling, public transit, taxi, etc.) to reduce residents’ financial stress. Independent mobility: Provide independent mobility options for diverse community members, including those who are poor, have disabilities or impairments, adolescents or seniors. Pro-social places: Create public spaces that promote community and encourage positive interactions among residents. Involve residents in creating public places and activities that meet their needs. Community safety: Create communities that minimize urban dangers including traffic, crime and harassment, and pollution exposure. This can involve traffic safety programs, crime prevention though environmental design, appropriate lighting, passive surveillance by nearby residents and bypassers, and other community safety programs. Design for physical activity: Integrate physical activity by providing good walking and cycling conditions, high quality public transit, compact and mixed neighborhoods, local parks and recreational facilities, plus appropriate community sports and recreation programs. Pollution reductions: Implement noise, air, light and toxic pollution reduction programs. Greenspace: Design cities with appropriate greenspaces, including local and regional parks, green infrastructure, and out-of-city wilderness access programs. What this report makes clear is that improving mental health through urban design is not a nebulous aspiration: practical architecture and urban planning approaches that target specific risk factors are likely to yield results. Better population mental health is an essential contributor to a thriving, sustainable city, and this report contributes an important analysis that will be helpful to citymakers. Read the report
6 Comments
Michael DeBruin
8/27/2021 06:16:55 am
My wish right now is that God should continue to bless Dr Emu for his good works towards the life of those people who are heart broken. My name is Michael DeBruin and I am from the USA, it's been a while since my lover's attitude changed from being the caring type she has been to me, but later turned out not to be caring at all. But not long, I later discovered that my lover was having an affair with someone else. and also she told me she doesn't need me after all we pass through then a friend told me about a spell caster. that with the spell I will get back my woman, I took his cell number then called him and also what's-app him which he reply to me and I did some sacrifices to the spell man and he bought the items for me which he used for the sacrifices and later called me that before 48 hours my love will come back to me and now we are more in love with each other than ever. you can reach him on WhatsApp +2347012841542 or reach him via mail ; emutemple@gmail.com , my lover returned back and broke up with the other guy she was having a relationship with... Thank you Dr Emu.
Reply
Laura Hobson
12/20/2022 11:05:42 am
I was really stressed by Acid reflux issues with my newborn and had consulted Chief Dr Lucky. He gave us a thorough consultation and the medicines were equally effective. In a couple of weeks there was big improvement in my son and we are very pleased with the progress. We cannot thank Chief Dr Lucky enough. Highly recommended.
Reply
Mato Ray
3/29/2022 01:54:27 am
I'm just too happy that everything is in place for me now. I would gladly recommend the use of spell to any one going through marriage problems and want to put an end to it by emailing Dr Emu through emutemple@gmail.com and that was where I got the help to restore my marriage. Whatsapp +2347012841542
Reply
Thank you for sharing this piece, really informative and helpful. Having a mental health issue is never that easy to manage you really need some support from the people around you. This piece is such an enlightenment with a lot of helpful information. Really appreciate you covered some info about the risk and pointing details how you can actually cope up with it.
Reply
Wilson Fox
6/9/2022 01:33:28 am
I suffered from what they called peripheral artery disease (PAD). I have been suffering for years, Me and my wife searched for a medical cure, and then we came across a testimony of a man who suffered the same and was cured by Dr Chief Lucky. So my wife and I contacted Dr Chief Lucky via an email and thank God he replied. I explained what was wrong and he sent me herbal medicines that helped heal me completely. I am happy to say that herbal medicine is the ultimate and Dr Chief Lucky I am grateful. You can contact him on his email: chiefdrlucky@gmail.com or whatsapp: +2348132777335, Facebook page http://facebook.com/chiefdrlucky or website https://chiefdrlucky.com/. Dr Chief Lucky said that he also specializes in the following diseases: LUPUS, ALS, CANCER, HPV, HERPES, DIABETES, COPD, HEPATITIS B, HIV AIDS, And more.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Sanity and Urbanity:
|