Author:
Chris Murray
(MENAFN- The Conversation) In all likelihood, poor mental health has blighted every age of human existence. Evolutionary psychologistssuggest it may bean intrinsic, even necessary, condition for our species. But there are grounds to suppose that we are now witnessing a rise in conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and suicide, as mental health disorders are measured tohave a growing tollonthe global population .
In the context of relentless global capitalism, 40 years ofneoliberalism , a decade of austerity andwidening inequalities , and aclimate emergency ,
it's hardly surprising that economic risk, precarity and vulnerability are being deeply felt by many as the defining existential challenges of today.
Modern cities can serve as citadels of freedom, tolerance and creativity. But factors that contribute to poor mental health – such as economic turbulence, a faster pace of life, austerity, inequality, poverty andenvironmental threats– seem to coalesce in urban centres in especially intense ways. As such, some research has identifiedunique strainson the psychological well-being of city-dwellers (though the extent to which they are a particularly stressed group remains the subject ofconsiderable debate ).
Of course, psychotherapies centred on building personal resilience – including cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, meditation, talking therapies, exercise, diet, abstinence, sleep and medication – have a crucial role to play in helping people cope with poor mental health. But inan agewhen more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, it's also worth asking whether it's possible to use what is known about the human mind to create therapeutic cities that actually benefit the mental health of residents.
Urban psychology
There is a rich tradition of research into psychology and cities – so much so that expertshave arguedit is time to form a new discipline. That's what prompted Europe's first summit onurban psychology–City, Psychology, Place . The conference took place in June 2019 in London, bringing together psychologists, psychiatrists, planners, geographers, architects, economists, urbanists and policy makers from the UK, the US and Europe.
It highlighted compelling research that could inform those whoplan ,design , build andmanagecities about how to look after the mental health of residents and createplaces which can heal , rather than harm.
For example, psychiatrists shone a light on thetraumatic stresssuffered by communities who experience forced displacement as collateral victims of 'urban renewal' programmes. Neuroscienceoffered fresh insightsinto how people perceive and experience cities. And recent research revealed that thepersonality traits of residentshas an impact on the economic performance of places.
So far, city leaders have pursued a fairly standard set of therapeutic interventions, such as promoting preventative policies, expanding and integrating mental health services, piloting new initiatives likesocial prescribing , introducing educational programmes to tackle stigma, makinghousing a human right , building community hubs and parks and creating beautiful, inclusive, accessible and safepublic realms .
A Darwinian landscape.
Jannis Lucas/Unsplash. ,FAL
All of these things have the potential to ease mental health problems including stress, depression and anxiety. Yet places that are geared to participate in a liberalised and globalised market economy are rarely supportive of those who struggle to compete.
Modern neoliberal cities often lead to precarious and low paid work,corrosive inequality ,overheated housing markets , transport congestion,air pollutionand social exclusion. Arguably, they cannot – by design or definition – serve as therapeutic, life-affirming spaces. So simply parachuting some therapeutic policies into neoliberal cities is unlikely to work.
One theory, two outcomes
While evidence from psychology could help to guide positive change in cities, the nature and impact of these changes will hinge on key political choices. Consider, for example, the guidance offered byself-determination theory– which for more than 40 years has served as one of psychology's most important theories of motivation.
Self-determination theory is based on the claim that human beings have three basic psychological needs: autonomy (or the need to exercise self-determination), competence (the need to experience mastery) and relatedness (the need to interact, be connected to and care for others). If these needs are met, people will do their best to live up to their potential. So for humans to flourish, the surrounding societal environment needs to support them to meet these needs.
Self-determination theory could simply instruct and enrich the neoliberal city - autonomy could underpin calls for more entrepreneurial freedoms, competence for enhanced training of the labour force and relatedness for more charity. But the theory also has the capacity to energise radical social movements with visions of system change.
Here, the idea of autonomy could give rise to activism for morerights to the cityfor the urban poor, competence could drive investment inbuilding basic human capabilitiesand relatedness could encourage deeper and richer relationshipsin and between communitiesto tackle issues such as loneliness and segregation.
One theory, two outcomes. Choices need to be made.
Therapeutic cities might well hold the key to tackling escalating concerns over poor mental health. But before progress can be made, citizens and authorities alike need to recognise that therapeutic cities are defined by the times in which they are built. The remedies suggested by urban psychology will only go so far, unless people are willing to challenge the political and economic status quo, to create a society that supports its citizens.
Psychology
Cities
Mental health
Depression
Anxiety
Neoliberalism
Social psychology
Burnout
MENAFN2307201901990000ID1098791663
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.