Public mental health
![A man in sunglasses and a hat walks on a street with apartment buildings and a young man in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/e9bcc260-1e82-4f97-88da-aedefe4a0935/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Depression
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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 bathroom scene featuring a metal toilet roll dispenser with a partially unrolled toilet paper, mounted on a tiled wall.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/c8671832-e03f-4bd8-bdf1-852ae5655c20/rt-nn11514297.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Human rights and justice
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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
![](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/5d840026-9637-43d4-8873-25425fa5789d/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Socioeconomics of mental health
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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
![](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/97a81e11-d5be-4b8a-b79e-a7556a5809c1/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Nature and the environment
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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