MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19

In the words of Jane Jacobs, a legendary urbanist and activist who is of utmost importance for the understanding of cities, once said: “Successful, vibrant, happy cities arise out of the visions of many, not the powerful few.”

What does it mean for us, citizens of today’s world, to turn cities into places that reflect the diversity of human kind in all its facets and colors? Cities for women and men, grown-ups and children, disabled and healthy, rich and poor people? 

With the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, our cities have become spaces of uncertainty, enclosure and death. As urban dwellers and young urbanists, we saw our universities closing overnight and cities throughout the world went into lockdown. New measurements and laws, such as curfews, social distancing and wearing masks suddenly became part of our daily routines, influencing our freedom of movement in space and time. In the discussion about the negative consequences of this modern plague the aspect of the psychological implications remains mainly neglected. The measures taken by governments, local authorities and health bodies resulted in strong emotions such as fear, helplessness and depression among adults and children. Health experts have to deal worldwide with a growing number of people who are reporting on sleeping disorders, alcohol consumption, drug abuse.  More and more fellow students, friends, family members and working colleagues report that they feel highly stressed and tired since the outbreak. All the wide-ranging limitations on our daily lives and the anxiety about our health, economic uncertainty and the difficulty in staying close to family and friends have a tremendous impact on how we think, act and feel.

Confronted with these measures, I wonder, how and to what extent will these radically new conditions shape our understanding of urban diversity, equality, social harmony and our well-being in the near future?  

Over the last decades, stress, depression and anxiety became largely related to risk factors such as city density, gender and external adversity. We need to reduce the stigma around mental health, addiction and relationship issues. In some cities we experience a growing need for psychotherapy, to find ways to reflect upon these new conditions and challenges. How can we reinforce the idea of viewing therapy as a positive and proactive part of routine?

Cities have in the past and will in the future thrive on economical as well as social and cultural diversity. Taking into account the unfolding of deteriorating urban conditions such as unequal distribution of wealth and goods in our society, the question arises how will cities be able to function properly and to satisfy basic needs to its residents, but also to the number of people who are moving to the cities and refugees?

When we think of the city as a complex entity, we also have to bear in mind that people have different basic habits, needs and expectations when it comes to our access to the city. Up to now cities are planned and built from a male perspective for the male users. They neglect the needs, interests and routines of female city dwellers in the city. So, how can we push and support women to contribute in planning and designing cities in accordance to gender-related needs and perspectives?

I can only agree with and encourage to share what Rachel Cooper OBE, Distinguished Professor of Design Management and Policy at Lancaster University recently stated: “Wellbeing and place has been the focus of a significant amount of research over the past twenty years, yet it has never hit the top of the agenda, Covid has placed it at the top. Post-Covid places will need to innovate in the way people move, the places they work in, how they have access to green and blue spaces, across their whole life-course. (…). We have the opportunity to rethink the way we make places.” (Innovation Brief: Post-Pandemic Wellbeing, 2020). 

The crisis has definitely affected our collective ability to live healthy and fulfilled lives. Now, it is time to rethink the future of our cities and to create resilient spaces, spaces which are prepared for future shocks. We need to collectively work on new urban strategies that influence positively and sustainably our well-being. Only then, we will be able to support those who suffer from mental health issues such as extreme stress, loneliness and anxiety. I believe that we, as women should reinforce our core values such as care, empathy and sensitivity within our societies.

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Gender and women's mental health. (2013, June 24). Retrieved November 09, 2020, from https://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/ 

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Handbook for Gender-Inclusive Urban Planning and Design. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2020, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/publication/handbook-for-gender-inclusive-urban-planning-and-design 

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Innovation Brief: Post-Pandemic Wellbeing. (2020, September 08). Retrieved November 08, 2020, from https://cp.catapult.org.uk/case-studies/innovation-brief-post-pandemic-wellbeing/

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Yu S. (2018). Uncovering the hidden impacts of inequality on mental health: a global study. Translational psychiatry, 8(1), 98.