Abstract

 
 
 Regardless if we are aware of it or not, our mental wellbeing is being directly affected by our surroundings - the built environment. Certain styles of buildings, the layout of streets, and the provision of green spaces are altering our psychology subconsciously. There are several ways in which cities can encourage better mental wellbeing by considering better urban design. During an age where it is becoming increasingly important to comprehend the impacts of poor mental health, an opportunity utilizing urban planning can help contribute to a healthier mental state overall. This paper seeks to present the various ways cities can utilize urban design to help improve the mental health of its citizens, and a case study from Tokyo, Japan is analyzed. The paper is written from an urban planning perspective; however, it also includes a brief introduction to the psychological background on how exactly our minds are affected by the built environment.
 
 
 
 
 “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”- Winston Churchill
 
 
Highlights
Whether it be in the form of taking transit, walking downtown, or the daily commute to work, we engage with the city we live in every day
A case study about Tokyo, Japan will be analyzed to illuminate the beneficial impacts that a well-designed city can have on our mental state
The meanings we deduce from building designs or public spaces can in turn affect our psychology and how we feel
Summary
Whether it be in the form of taking transit, walking downtown, or the daily commute to work, we engage with the city we live in every day. A study by Peen, Schoevers, and Dekker (2010) found that living in cities is associated with increases in mood disorders (by up to 39%), increases in anxiety disorders (by up to 21%), doubling the risk of schizophrenia, and increases in cocaine and heroin addictions. While these effects from city living can be attributed to a variety of factors, it is clear that city life can negatively affect our mental health. Advancing the state of global mental health was addressed by the World Health Organization’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, and with 68% of the world’s population projected to be living in urban areas by 2050 (UN, 2018), achieving positive mental health is a global issue
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