Cities and Mental Health

Overview

Journal Dtsch Arztebl Int

Specialties General Medicine
Public Health

Date 2017 Mar 18

PMID 28302261

Citations 127

Authors

Oliver Gruebner

Michael A Rapp

Mazda Adli

Ulrike Kluge

Sandro Galea

Andreas Heinz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: More than half of the global population currently lives in cities, with an increasing trend for further urbanization. Living in cities is associated with increased population density, traffic noise and pollution, but also with better access to health care and other commodities.

Methods: This review is based on a selective literature search, providing an overview of the risk factors for mental illness in urban centers.

Results: Studies have shown that the risk for serious mental illness is generally higher in cities compared to rural areas. Epidemiological studies have associated growing up and living in cities with a considerably higher risk for schizophrenia. However, correlation is not causation and living in poverty can both contribute to and result from impairments associated with poor mental health. Social isolation and discrimination as well as poverty in the neighborhood contribute to the mental health burden while little is known about specific interactions between such factors and the built environment.

Conclusion: Further insights on the interaction between spatial heterogeneity of neighborhood resources and socio-ecological factors is warranted and requires interdisciplinary research.

Citing Articles

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Exploring the relationship between neighborhood walkability and mental health: A study of urban areas in Texas.

Makram O, Pan A, Parekh T, Maddock J, Kash B Heliyon. 2025; 11(4):e42710.

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Analysis of social media language reveals the psychological interaction of three successive upheavals.

Mesquiti S, Seraj S, Weyland A, Ashokkumar A, Boyd R, Mihalcea R Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):5740.

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Prevalence of Reported Mental Illness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Community-Based Study.

Tsegaye S, Melesse H, Sime H, Wujira E, Abdelmenan S, Fasil N Ethiop J Health Sci. 2025; 34(Spec Iss 2):138-143.

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Combating the mental health challenge of loneliness among urban youth: could finding meaning in life and experiencing thriving enhance their well-being?.

Chhajer R, Chaudhry S, Mishra A BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):3586.

PMID: 39722022 PMC: 11670347. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-21185-2.

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