Public mental health

Futuristic architectural rendering with wooden structures elevated above a tree-filled courtyard space.
ARCHITECTURE

How the buildings you occupy might be affecting your brain

Cutting-edge research in the field of neuroarchitecture is revealing the public health implications of building design

by Cleo Valentine & Heather Mitcheltree

Photo of a toilet paper dispenser on a tiled wall in a dimly lit bathroom.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

Public toilets are vanishing and that’s a civic catastrophe

New research shows it is a nightmare for all of us, but especially for people with health issues and marginalised groups

by Guido Corradi

Photo of a city street with a man in a hat in the foreground and another man walking among cars in the background.
DEPRESSION

Why life is faster but depression is lower in bigger cities

Large cities might seem detrimental to mental health but a comparison of depression rates suggests bigger is better

by Andrew Stier

A flooded room with a radiator, window with plants, and a pink bucket floating in the water.
NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The climate emergency is taking a serious toll on mental health

Climate change is not only making lots of people feel distressed, it’s also causing severe mental health problems

by Alessandro Massazza

Photo of a woman and two children sitting in an armchair in a dimly lit room with red curtains and a framed painting.
SOCIOECONOMICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

Rural life can intensify the stigma and loneliness of mental illness

Heightened stigma, a lack of privacy and inadequate support services add to mental health challenges in rural communities

by Allison Crowe