The impact of urbanization on mental health service provision: a Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and Africa focus.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Asia and Africa are experiencing rapid urbanization and rural growth. This review focuses on the impact of urbanization on preventive and treatment mental health service provision with attention to the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa economic bloc and sub-Saharan Africa.

RECENT FINDINGS

A search of the PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate, and Global Health databases, and use of Google Scholar yielded relevant health, environmental, and urban planning research articles from sub-Saharan Africa and Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. Preventive services are ineffective in addressing violence exposure, substance use, poor quality housing, and spatial segregation, with differing trajectories in the various countries. Similarly, the impact of urbanization on social capital and green infrastructure is variable. Although Brazil appears to have a well-developed mental health system, it is unable to meet the care demand. Integrated country-wide and district-based analyses in China indicate planning is underway.

SUMMARY

In general, existing mental and general health services in low and middle-income countries are grossly inadequate in terms of prevention, coverage, and quality to withstand population transitions lying ahead. People with mental disability, as a vulnerable and stigmatized subpopulation, are at high risk of neglect as urbanization progresses, particularly in India and sub-Saharan Africa.