UD/MH is now on Instagram - and we want your pictures

We are often contacted by journalists, urban designers, planners and policymakers, asking the same simple question: can you give us some examples of urban design that promotes good mental health in cities around the world? We want to be able to give them a range of interesting examples from cities all over the world, but our eyes can't be everywhere.

Fortunately, yours can, through the power of social media. We have just launched the UD/MH Instagram Page. This will hopefully prove to be a critical tool for promoting the opportunities for leveraging urban design to promote good mental health. It will also become an accessible discussion platform for us to share ideas with a greater audience.

The aim of our Instagram page is to present good (and bad!) examples of urban design for good mental health from all over the world. These could take any form, such as; parks, open spaces, public buildings, housing, etc - and any scale, city-wide or nuanced (as long as it fits into a photograph). The pictures should demonstrate the use of any of the urban design factors that affect mental health. These snapshots will weave together to create a patchwork of inspiration, and points of discussion – as well as feeding into the growing discourse of conscious urban design for the benefit of public health. The pictures may also be shared on our website or in publications to demonstrate challenges and possibilities.
 
It would be great to see this page grow and attract and connect new audiences around the world, alongside the other social media channels used by UD/MH. Moreover, it is a great way for all of us to show off our favourite cities, and our projects.
 
How can you get involved?

• If you are active users of Instagram, please visit the page @urbandesignmentalhealth – follow, check out, share and comment on current posts.
• Think of great images you have (or go out and take some photographs) that show urban design that promotes good mental health (or that does not).
• Ensure that the images are your own, or that we have permission to post them, potentially over multiple platforms such as our blog, etc. Include appropriate attributions that we should use.
• Include a short description about the location, context, and relevant features.
• Submit the images to us directly through Instagram or by email.
  
• Enjoy the images being shared on Instagram and on other platforms.
• If you submit a lot, we can discuss the possibility of you doing a photo essay for UD/MH.

We look forward to seeing and sharing your pictures.

About the Author

Charlotte Collins is a UD/MH Associate. She is responsible for managing the UD/MH Instagram account.

Charlotte is studying BA Geography at UCL, and is currently on an exchange year at the Freie Universität Berlin. Her main interests are in the architecture and regeneration of urban housing estates and its link to wellbeing, which she is currently researching for her undergraduate dissertation.

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