The COVID-19 pandemic offered new insights around the impact of the built environment on mental health, with the prevalence of the car in our cities and lives severely limiting our ability to create restorative spaces. Here are three takeaways for planners wanting to promote better mental health...🧵 - ThreadSky

modacitylife.com • 13 days ago

The COVID-19 pandemic offered new insights around the impact of the built environment on mental health, with the prevalence of the car in our cities and lives severely limiting our ability to create restorative spaces. Here are three takeaways for planners wanting to promote better mental health...🧵

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modacitylife.com•13 days ago

1️⃣ Design for physical activity: When it comes to emotional well-being, movement—not laugher—may be the best medicine: Moving our bodies, even just a short walk at 5 km/h, creates many of the feel-good chemicals our brain requires, which can be a great way to recover from stress and fight depression.

modacitylife.com•13 days ago

2️⃣ Design for social interaction: Cities have effectively engineered physical and social activity out of our lives, robbing many of the ability to spontaneously meet those in their community. Face-to-face contact and brief “hi-hi” moments release oxytocin—reducing instances of anxiety and loneliness.

modacitylife.com•13 days ago

3️⃣ Design for access to nature: Car-first design has also reduced our exposure to nature, another key preventative measure. Immersing ourselves in nature improves our mood, restoring cognitive resources and improving our ability to deal with stress, by stimulating senses and providing a mental break.

humantravl.bsky.social•13 days ago

Our local authority continues to plant tiny street trees whilst also allowing residents to pave over 30m2 of front garden to create no net new parking spaces (plus 1 on private land, minus 1 on public highway)

modacitylife.com•13 days ago

When we discuss the global mental health crisis, we often speak as if it’s occurring in a vacuum, ignoring the considerable impact of the built environment. The key question is can we learn the lessons of COVID-19 and establish a new normal; building cities that promote better emotional well-being?🔚

hibaiunzueta.eu•13 days ago

It feels that soon we’ll also need attention-grab-free areas, where people are allowed to focus on the people and space around them.

littlebigfred.bsky.social•13 days ago

We still have done pretty much nothing regarding airborne viruses ("wash your hands") :-/

mayacomposer.bsky.social•13 days ago

I heard a podcast recently about a doctor in the 19th or 20th century (foggy memory) who kept getting patients with the same problem. He eventually realised the problem was the water hygiene and made sure the city got better systems in place. I feel like that applies here.

mayacomposer.bsky.social•13 days ago

we keep focusing on individuals instead of fixing the water supply

andy-pearce.com•13 days ago

This is a great point. I see this effect at work, on a smaller scale—Bloomberg offices are oriented around a “pantry” area where the drinks and food are located. These areas are buzzing with people, which means not only do you get a walk away from your desk, you bump into people you know. (1/2)

andy-pearce.com•13 days ago

At other places I’ve worked, you’re around only your immediate team for the whole day (except lunch). It may seem trivial, but when go head over to the pantry to get a coffee, even if you don’t see someone you know, just the brief change of scenery and people is surprisingly refreshing. (2/2)

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