Misiak Błażej, Karska Julia, Kowalski Szymon, Courtet Philippe, Volpe Umberto, Schouler-Ocak Meryam, Destoop Marianne, Adorjan Kristina, Kraxner Fabian, Buwalda Victor J A, Campion Jonathan, Beezhold Julian, Falkai Peter, Dom Geert
Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
IGF, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France.
Eur Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 3;68(1):e127. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10100.
Urbanization, the shift of a growing population into urban areas, is shaping global development across infrastructure, health, and sustainability. Although it brings economic growth, innovation, and improved access to services, it may also impact mental health.
The present article was prepared on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association and explores the complexity of associations between urbanization and mental health, highlighting both potential risks and opportunities for improvement.
Urban growth often leads to increased population density, social fragmentation, and environmental stressors, including noise, pollution, and reduced green spaces, all of which might account for worsening mental health. Urban residents might be at risk of various mental disorders due to these stressors, accompanied by the risk of social disconnection. Moreover, socioeconomic disparities in urban settings can lead to unequal healthcare access, further contributing to these challenges. However, urbanization also offers unique opportunities to improve mental health through better resource allocation, innovative healthcare solutions, and community-building initiatives. Indeed, cities might serve as areas for mental health promotion by integrating mental health services into primary care, utilizing digital health technologies, and fostering environments that promote social interactions and well-being. Urban planning that prioritizes green spaces, safe housing, and accessible public transportation holds the potential to mitigate some risks related to urban living.
While urbanization presents significant challenges to mental health, it also provides grounds for transformative interventions. Addressing the mental health needs of urban populations requires a multifaceted approach that includes policy reform, community engagement, and sustainable urban planning.
城市化，即越来越多的人口向城市地区转移，正在塑造基础设施、健康和可持续性等方面的全球发展。尽管它带来了经济增长、创新以及更好的服务获取机会，但也可能影响心理健康。
本文由欧洲精神病学协会撰写，探讨了城市化与心理健康之间关联的复杂性，突出了潜在风险和改善机会。
城市增长往往导致人口密度增加、社会碎片化以及环境压力因素，包括噪音、污染和绿地减少，所有这些都可能导致心理健康恶化。由于这些压力因素，城市居民可能面临各种精神障碍的风险，同时还伴有社会脱节的风险。此外，城市环境中的社会经济差异可能导致医疗保健获取不平等，进一步加剧了这些挑战。然而，城市化也提供了独特的机会，可通过更好的资源分配、创新的医疗保健解决方案和社区建设举措来改善心理健康。事实上，城市可以通过将心理健康服务纳入初级保健、利用数字健康技术以及营造促进社会互动和福祉的环境，成为促进心理健康的区域。优先考虑绿地、安全住房和便捷公共交通的城市规划有可能减轻与城市生活相关的一些风险。
虽然城市化给心理健康带来了重大挑战，但它也为变革性干预提供了依据。满足城市人口的心理健康需求需要多方面的方法，包括政策改革、社区参与和可持续的城市规划。
