Media release

From: Springer Nature

Social sciences: How to make cities mental health friendly

A ranking of the most important factors that make a city mental health friendly for young people is presented in Nature this week. Public spaces for youth to gather and build meaningful relationships are highlighted as key points to focus on. The findings indicate that designing cities with the potential to support well-being and positive mental health in young residents is possible but requires collaboration across multiple sectors to make cities that are more inclusive.

Young people under the age of 25 are the demographic group most likely to move to cities for educational, social and employment opportunities. However, this has also been shown to be detrimental to mental health for several reasons, including but not limited to violence, lack of green space, environmental toxins and fear of inequality. With increasing numbers of children and young people growing up in cities, solutions are needed to improve adolescent mental health in urban areas.

Pamela Collins and colleagues recruited a panel of 518 individuals from 53 countries with expertise in various areas related to urban life and adolescent well-being such as researchers, policymakers and young city residents. The panel were surveyed and asked to analyse 37 characteristics through multiple rounds in order to assess which were best suited to providing a mental health-friendly habitat for young people.

The most important factor was deemed to be access to free and safe community spaces in which young people can connect, learn and socialize. In addition, access to secure employment opportunities, a supportive educational system and quality healthcare were highlighted as crucial characteristics. The importance of addressing the inequality in mental healthcare and integrating young people into the planning process of urban development was also raised. Finally, the survey drew attention to the negative effects of prejudice against minority groups, with the eradication of both personal and structural discrimination being ranked highly as a policy response.

Part of the study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the severe impacts of this event on young people’s well-being in cities. The data suggest that the pandemic reinforced the importance of the community spaces and social networks. Loss or limited availability of such factors can contribute to further isolation and poorer mental health outcomes for individuals.

This framework provides a clear set of priorities by which future urban planning can improve the mental health and well-being of young people in cities, with particular focus on reducing existing inequalities and damage inflicted by the pandemic. Importantly, the framework emphasises that any response should take care not to design programmes that magnify existing privileges and should centre young people in the planning and design of such initiatives.