UD/MH in the PRESS

Op-eds, press, publications, presentations, papers, and other external contributions by and about the Centre for Urban Design for Mental Health. Please contact us if you would like comment, op-eds, etc from UD/MH.

Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative Landscapes
Book launch, 3 May 2023

Experience the power of "Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative Landscapes" - a revolutionary book by Dr. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo, UD/MH Editor & Fellow. This comprehensive guide was released on May 30, 2023. It revolutionizes landscape design through an innovative approach rooted in neuroscience.

How urban design impacts mental health
The Hindu (India), 28th May 2020

Why does nature calm anxiety?
BBC World Service, 24 May 2020

L’Active Design, ou l’architecture qui fait marcher
Telerama (France), 6 January 2019

Layla McCay is interviewed on urban design and mental health in France and beyond.

In the future, you’ll never have to leave your neighborhood
Quartz, 15 September 2018

Layla McCay contributes to the Quartz future forecasting project.

Derry has a high suicide rate – but could redesigning the river help the city?
The Guardian, 10 September 2018

Layla McCay comments on an urban design and mental health project in Derry.

Metrópolis deprimidas: ¿Está en riesgo la salud mental de las ciudades?
Efecto Naim, 18 March 2018

Layla McCay speaks about urban design and mental health on this show about wellbeing in the city for TV show Efecto Naim. It's a 5-minute clip in Spanish.

Cramped quarters, no walking space on streets – how Hong Kong’s urban design can drive you up the wall
South China Morning Post, 17th March 2018

The UD/MH Hong Kong case study is covered in this piece.

The growing link between pollution and mental health

Layla McCay discusses research by Jacob King published in Edition 4 of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health

Lessons in building for mental health from Hong Kong and Tokyo
City Metric/New Statesman, 7 February 2018

Layla McCay from UD/MH authors this piece on what dense Asian cities might teach us about design needs and opportunities in this world's urban future.

Happiness by design — how cities can make us less lonely
Toronto Metro, 28 January 2018

Layla McCay from UD/MH is quoted on this piece on designing for mental wellbeing.

Why should Hong Kong be more walkable?
South China Morning Post, 27 January 2018

Findings from UD/MH city case study of Hong Kong are used to contribute to the walkability debate.

Hong Kong needs more public open space, for people’s physical and mental well-being
South China Morning Post, 18 November 2017

Layla McCay and Paul Yip write about the latest UD/MH research findings for Hong Kong, and its implications for open space planning in the city.

Will a lack of open space damage generations of Hongkongers?
South China Morning Post, 4 November 2017

This article about open space in Hong Kong has a mental health angle that quotes extensively from UD/MH's case study in Hong Kong.

Cities Can Learn From Tokyo's Mental Health-Friendly Design, Psychiatrist Says
The Fix, 28 August 2017

This website about addiction and recovery summarises some of the UD/MH research on Tokyo.

Designing a megacity for mental health
CityLab, 22 August 2017

The results from UD/MH's first city case study, Tokyo, are discussed.

UD/MHが考える建造環境と健康の関係性
Innovation is GREAT website, British Embassy, Japan, 22 August 2017

This Japanese piece, written by UD/MH Director Layla McCay, discusses the UK's leadership in urban design for health, and the UD/MH event in Tokyo.

Why do we keep building depressingly designed cities?
Citi.io, 12 June 2017

Discusses work by Colin Ellard and quotes Layla McCay.

Designing mental health into cities: the next frontier for urban design
Urban Design Journal, Vol 142, April 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay writes a long piece on why city-dwellers are at greater risk of mental health problems and how urban design can support better mental health.

What does it take to build a resilient city?
The Guardian, 20 April 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay participated in a panel discussion about resilient cities.

Mental health issues can't be solved by psychologists alone - city design can help too
Quartz, 17 March 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay authored this piece on the historical friendship between urban planning and mental health, and the opportunities for collaboration.

City-dwellers are prone to depression: are high-rises to blame?
The Guardian, 16 March 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay and UD/MH Fellow Colin Ellard are quoted in this piece  about density and mental health.

The Pursuit of Happiness: Mental Health in Cities
LinkedIn, 17 February 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is quoted in this piece by Christian Robertson from the Centre for International Governance Innovation, South Africa. He discusses the importance of cities getting involved in mental health promotion.

Nature in spaces, and the nature of places
Conscious Cities, 10th February 2017

This Conscious Cities discussion about biophilic design makes reference to the work of UD/MH.

McCAY: Miejskie powikłania
Res Publica Nowa, 21 January 2017

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is interviewed about how to design a city with mental health in mind. (Polish)

Comment nous pourrions mieux gérer les maladies mentales en redessinant nos villes
Atlantico, 30 December 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is interviewed about how to design a city with mental health in mind. (French)

The 4 spaces cities need to make people happier
New York Magazine, 29 December 2016

This piece discussed UD/MH's Mind the GAPS framework.

What can urban planners do to promote mental health?
CITI.IO, 27 December 2016

This interview with UD/MH Director Layla McCay discusses the founding of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health.

How to support mental health through urban planning
The Atlantic CityLab, 23rd December 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is interviewed about how to design a city with mental health in mind.

Can your city change your mind?
Curbed, 16th November 2016

This longform exploration of the history, opportunities and impact of urban design on mental health features interviews with UD/MH Director Layla McCay and UD/MH Fellows Colin Ellard, and Itai Palti.

Urban Design and Quality of Life
ECA Architecture and Planning, 16th September 2016

This is a short summary of UD/MH ideas around urban design and mental health.

Could bad buildings damage your mental health?
The Guardian, 16th September 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is quoted extensively in this piece about how urban design can affect mental health.

Promoting good mental health and wellbeing through urban design
Placemaking Resource, 13th September 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is quoted in this piece that offers advice for urban design to promote mental health.

Ciudades antiestrés: Qué hay que hacer para evitar que nos enfermen
AQQ, 1st September 2016

UD/MH ideas are discussed in this piece about how urban design can affect mental health. (Spanish)

Seeking John Snow's Water Pump for Urban Mental Health
Global Urban Campaign, 30th August 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay writes about why citymakers are so important in urban mental health, and discusses the Mind the GAPS framework.

Por qué el diseño urbano y la salud mental deben ir de la mano
La Vanguardia, 23rd August 2016

UD/MH ideas are discussed in this piece about how urban design can affect mental health. (Spanish)

Building better mental health in cities from the ground up
The Guardian, 17th August 2016

UD/MH Director Layla McCay is quoted in this piece about how urban design can affect mental health.

Seattle's 'aggressive plan' to cut pollution with 15,000 electric vehicles
The Guardian, 21st March 2016

The Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health paper by Rhiannon Corcoran and Graham Marshall on better planning for mental health was mentioned in this article.

Are you happy with your city?

Dora Jihyun Yi, Research Associate
Medium, 13th September 2015

South Korean psychologist and UD/MH Associate Dora Jihyun Yi describes how her patients' experiences caused her to develop an interest in urban design and mental health and examines key associations between housing design and mental health.

Honolulu solves traffic – with protected bike lanes
The Guardian, 7th September 2015

The launch of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health is mentioned.

Scientist, Researcher, Doctor - what is the homeless person asking of you?

Ingrid Bremer, Research Associate
Medium, 6th September 2015

Ingrid Bremer is struck during her research for UD/MH about how little academic work has been done on how to improve homeless people's mental health through urban design.

We should think more about the link between urban design and mental health

Layla McCay, Director
City Metric, New Statesman, 21st August 2015

Layla McCay considers the reasons that mental health is often overlooked by urban planners and others, even when physical health is being taken into consideration in urban design.

Health, Transportation, and City Planning Connections to Get a Closer Look

Tarik Endale, Research Associate
Mobility Lab, 17th July 2015

Tarik Endale, UD/MH Associate, discusses the impact of the urban setting on mental health, with a focus on commuting.

Urban Design Centre Launched to Tackle Mental Health

Layla McCay, Director
Cities Today, 10th July 2015

Layla McCay is interviewed on the launch, why mental health should matter to cities, and what to expect from UD/MH. 

Streets and Sidewalks Should Be Used to Improve Our Health

Chris Hamilton, Active Transport Speaker at UD/MH Launch Event
Mobility Lab, 9th July 2015

Adapted from the transcript of Chris Hamilton's presentation at the UD/MH launch event, How Urban Transport Can Improve Mental Health. 

Urban Design and Mental Health: there's an app for that

Layla McCay, Director
TechChange, 6th July 2015

Two mHealth apps seeking to map mental health across cities, and the launch of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. 

Why We Should Let Go of Nostalgia and Embrace the Evolution of Libraries

Layla McCay
Huffington Post, 10th October 2013

Libraries as third spaces for communities.