The Impact of Urbanization on Mental Health: Finding Peace in the Concrete Jungle

According to the World Bank, over 50% of the global population – around 4.5 billion people worldwide – currently live in urban areas (cities)^[1]. Living in a city can come with many benefits, especially financial. It’s undoubtedly convenient to have access to services and resources you need – not to mention cities are where most jobs are found.

However, as the world becomes more and more urbanized, it’s important to understand how city living impacts our overall mental health. Living in a city environment is preferred by many people, but research shows urbanization is associated with an increase in societal problems, including crime, substance abuse, and mental health problems.

Here, we’ll examine urbanization’s impact on global mental health and discuss ways to protect one’s well-being while living in a dense city.

How has urbanization impacted societal mental health and well-being?

Researchers have studied how global urbanization has impacted public mental health. We don’t have any concrete answers yet, but studies have found urbanization may affect mental health in the following ways:

Lack of access to nature

One significant way living in a city may impact mental health is reduced access to nature and green spaces. Research has repeatedly shown that spending time in nature benefits mental health. It can reduce stress and anxiety and promote feelings of relaxation.

Unfortunately, many cities worldwide lack significant green space. Residents may need to travel a long distance to access nature. This lack of access can increase stress, which can develop into more serious mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, for some people.

Reduced intergenerational and social support

Another way urbanization has impacted global mental health is through its effect on the people left behind. It’s becoming increasingly common for young people to leave their rural hometowns to seek better financial opportunities in the city. We see this happening in rural areas all across the globe.
While financial opportunities are a big benefit of cities, unfortunately, this also means there is less family support for those left behind in the rural areas. In particular, older people or people with disabilities may be left in rural hometowns without the intergenerational support they may have received if it weren’t for urbanization.

Noise and air pollution

Lastly, noise and air pollution are significant concerns in cities, especially cities whose residents over-rely on cars as the principal mode of transportation. Research has found significant links between noise pollution and neurotoxicity, which can lead to a higher risk of developing mental health problems^[4]. Noise and air pollution can also increase stress, further worsening mental health.

Living with this type of pollution can mean that even if your city has parks or green spaces, you don’t take advantage of them because it’s unpleasant to be outside. Unfortunately, lack of access to nature can also harm mental health, leading to a negative self-perpetuating cycle.

Lack of community

Despite more people living more closely together in urban areas, many people find themselves to be much more isolated in cities than in small towns or rural communities. This could have several explanations; for example, city dwellers are often so busy with their daily tasks, including spending more extended amounts of time commuting, that they have less time to dedicate to spending time with community members.

This means living in cities is often associated with social isolation and loneliness. All of these factors have been linked to poor mental health overall.

Violence and crime

City dwellers also usually face a much higher risk of violence and crime than people who live in rural areas. Coping with the constant threat of violence significantly increases stress, which can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

However, one literature review noted certain groups of people, such as the LGBTQ+ population or immigrants, may face more harassment and violence in rural communities, which tend to be less accepting of outsiders^[2].

Increased depression, anxiety, and psychosis

Many research studies have found a correlation between living in an urban environment and higher rates of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety^[3]. Studies have also found an increased risk for psychosis in urban areas across several countries, including the UK, the United States, and Germany^[2].

The link between mental health problems and city living can partly be explained by the other factors discussed here. However, it’s important to also consider the possibility urban environments simply attract, rather than cause, an increase in mental health struggles.

Although urbanization has its downfalls, there are also significant benefits to living in the city. Cities tend to have more health resources available to their residents, which may explain why physical health is better in urban areas than in rural areas. In other words, it might not entirely be that living in a city directly causes mental health problems; rather, people with pre-existing mental health problems may arrive in cities to use these resources.

How to protect your mental health in the city

Although the research paints a grim picture, urban living can have benefits as well – not to mention many people are forced to live in cities for financial or employment reasons. Luckily, there are practical steps you can take to protect your mental health even while living in the middle of a big city.

Spend as much time in green spaces as possible

Most major cities in the United States have at least some green spaces where people can connect with nature. Even New York City, the country’s biggest city, offers residents Central Park. While spending time in Central Park may not have the same benefits as spending time in a national park or forest, any time spent in nature is good for mental health.

Find the nearest park in your neighborhood, no matter how small, and commit to spending time there regularly. If you don’t have any green space available, consider connecting with nature in other ways. For example, look up at the clouds on a sunny day or listen to the sound of the rain during a storm.

Build community

One of the most harmful parts of living in a dense urban environment is the lack of community that can come along with it. However, one of the benefits of city life is that cities tend to attract people from all walks of life. Regardless of your identity or interest, you can likely find a community of people who support you.

Unfortunately, certain aspects of city life, like long commutes, can hinder building a strong social support network. You may need to prioritize building your city community – while in rural areas, community may come more naturally. If you feel comfortable, consider starting with your neighbors. Get involved in neighborhood meetings and take an active role in community planning.

Get physically active

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your physical and mental health. That’s why urban planning specialists consider how much physical activity can be incorporated into residents’ everyday lives when making improvements to cities, such as by creating bike lanes or walking paths.

If you feel safe doing so, exercise in your neighborhood. Ride a bike to your office, walk your dog on neighborhood streets, or attend a local dance class at the park. Moving your body can help connect you to your local community and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Get mental health support

One significant benefit of living in a metropolitan area is having more access to Health services, including mental health support.

Regardless of whether living in a city has caused you to have mental health problems or if you already struggled with them before moving to the city, consider taking advantage of the mental health resources available in your area. This can include talking to a therapist, seeing a psychiatrist for medication, or using holistic methods like joining a mindfulness class or attending a retreat.

Get depression and anxiety treatment at The Center in Washington State

The Center • A Place of HOPE offers holistic mental health treatment in the beautiful Puget Sound, giving you access to nature just outside of the city. We offer specialized treatment programs for anxiety, PTSD, and depression that can help you overcome mental health conditions that may have arisen from the stress of city life.

Get in touch with us for more information about our programs or to request treatment.

1 – https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview
2 – https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cns-spectrums/article/abs/urbanization-and-emerging-mental-health-issues/A458AD66F75A7A9711688B695043F9B2
3 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996208/
4 – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02365-w