Urbanization, Social Capital and Mental Health

Abstract

One of the consequences of globalization has been rapid urbanization. The urban environment has long been considered of aetiological significance for a wide range of mental illnesses from depression to psychosis but the dynamic process of rapid urbanization adds at least two other problems that are important for psychological well-being; migration, and the need to develop supportive community structures for disparate groups that may have little shared social history. In order to investigate the links between urbanization and mental illness we need concepts that help us to understand the association between community structure and health. Social capital is such a concept. This article outlines the research linking social capital to mental health. It discusses the association between the urban environment and mental illness and then considers the possible impact of globalization and urbanization on social capital and rates of mental illness.