How can we combat mental health problems in cities?

Depression, anxiety disorders, and addictions. In countries where more than half of the inhabitants live in cities, these mental health disorders appear to be more common, UvA PhD student Junus van der Wal concludes. “In addition, all these mental health problems - especially in Western countries - seem to be more prevalent in urban areas than in rural ones.”   
  
Together with some 40 other UvA researchers, Van der Wal is conducting interdisciplinary research into the reason for this within the so-called Center for Urban Mental Health, an institute founded four years ago and headed by Reinout Wiers and Claudi Bockting. Their goal is clear: dramatically improve mental health in cities. But the question is: how? What should urban regions like Amsterdam pay better attention to in the fight against mental health problems?  
  
According to Van der Wal, three components appear to be important in mental health: the physical, natural, and social environments. And cities can respond to these. After all, the first has to do with how a city is laid out, Van der Wal says. For example, is there enough green space? “Greenery, for instance, can reduce stress.”   
  
Social cohesion  
But how a park or forest is laid out is also relevant. He lists up the factors: “Not too much dense vegetation, sufficient lighting, opportunities for social control, and opportunities to meet or play sports together. These are all things you should take into account when considering implementing green spaces in cities and want to have an effect.”  
  
The level of air and noise pollution, as part of the natural environment, can also affect the psychological state of city dwellers, Van der Wal says. But especially the latter - the social environment - is crucial, he says. “This involves a sense of connection. Taking measures to promote social cohesion in neighborhoods could lead to better mental health for residents,” he explains. “This also applies to young people and young adults.”  
  
Corona  
The corona period when social distancing was the order of the day seems to have proven this. Het Parool headlined last Wednesday, “Young adults in Amsterdam hit hard mentally by corona period.” Based on a new GGD report, things went downhill mentally especially among Amsterdam youths between the ages of 18 and 25 during this period, the newspaper concluded.   
  
According to Van der Wal, research was also done at the UvA on how students in Amsterdam felt during the pandemic. “It showed that UvA students also had a hard time mentally and that feelings of loneliness played an important role in this.”