Mental suffering through life in the big city

Stress, noise and anonymity increasingly cause mental health problems for city dwellers

09/03/2015

Life in the city is usually associated with higher levels of noise, stress and greater anonymity than in the countryside. Here, the experts of the Central Institute of Mental Health at the University of Mannheim see possible reasons for the demonstrably higher prevalence of mental disorders in the urban population.

Cities are the melting pot of our society. Here life is buzzing. However, city dwellers are sometimes exposed to significant pressures such as noise or air pollution. At different levels, these can have a harmful impact on health. Stress, noise and anonymity are significant risk factors for the increased occurrence of mental problems among city dwellers, explain Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg of the Central Institute for Mental Health at the University of Mannheim and Mazda Adli, chief physician of the Fliedner Klinik in Berlin and stress researchers at the Charité, in the current contribution of „Mirror online“.

More anxiety disorders and depression among city dwellers
According to the researchers, it is undisputed that city dwellers are increasingly struggling with mental health problems. So come „Anxiety disorders and depression in people who live in the city, about 30 to 40 percent more common“, reports Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg. Individual mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, are even three times as common as people living in the countryside. In addition, it can be said that with increasing size of the city in which one grew up, the schizophrenia risk increases, adds Mazda to Adli „Mirror online“. Together, Adli and Meyer-Lindenberg have investigated which factors of city life cause the increased occurrence of mental illnesses. In addition, Adli founded in cooperation with city planners, architects and neuroscientists, the Department of Neuro-urban studies, which is dedicated to the psychological effects of cities on the urban population.

City dwellers react differently to stress
Of the many factors that may be considered as potential triggers for the increased occurrence of mental health problems in city dwellers, according to the researchers, especially the noise, stress and anonymity are crucial. Meyer-Lindenberg and his team also found that the processing of stress and feelings is different for people from the big city, reports „Mirror online“. Thus, the brain of city dwellers react much more sensitive to stress than that of small dwellers and rural dwellers. However, this does not necessarily mean mental problems, because some people are generally less susceptible to stress, and many urbanites find the hectic pace of city life so beneficial, the researchers explain „Mirror online“. However, according to Adli, only those who can escape stress at any time can benefit if it gets too much for them.

Social networks important for mental health
Iris Hauth from the Alexian St. Joseph Hospital Berlin-Weißensee explains that people tend to feel comfortable as long as they feel they can control their lives and decide whether to retire or make friends. „Who can not control this, is more exposed to the stress effects of the big city“ says the expert. In addition, inhabitants of a large city are sometimes socially isolated due to anonymity. So 80 percent of the people in the city would not know their neighbors. But „a social network is very important for a person's mental health“, Iris Hauth is quoted.

City stress is creeping stress
In general, the psychological stress caused by stress in the city is often only noticeable after a considerable delay. „City stress is creep stress - it comes along unnoticed“; Adli is from this „Mirror online“ cited. The first signs are for example an irritable mood, tension and insomnia. However, this also applies to psychological stress caused by stress, which is not due to the city life. Thus, professional pressure or anger are extremely stressful for many people, reports Iris Hauth. If city stress comes along, the situation could quickly come to a head. If the first signs of mental problems appear, the expert advises against countermeasures as early as possible. Concerned people should, for example, with sports or weekend trips to nature for compensation, said Hauth. „It is important to set a fixed date in the week for this break“.

Seek medical help
If the measures for reducing stress or for relaxation do not show the desired effect, the affected persons should contact their GP or a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, the expert continues. Because the burden can not get under control, this is associated with a high risk of anxiety or depression. According to Meyer-Lindenberg, more attention to symptoms is generally needed to counteract the stress. Here, for example, in courses at community colleges, a corresponding knowledge is taught. A massive improvement in the quality of life can be achieved through the conscious perception of the moment with all the senses.

Know your own needs and rediscover the city
The anonymity and the resulting social isolation are crucial stress factors of city life, which theoretically can be solved relatively easily. Those affected should consciously go under people, although the possibilities are quite good in the city, advise the experts. Sports clubs, reading circles, the choir, church meeting places or other associations, associations and initiatives offer good opportunities to make contacts with like-minded people. Adli advises the city dwellers to become aware of their own needs and to subsequently rediscover the city under these aspects. Moving to the countryside also seems a natural solution, and it is not without reason that longing for rural life has increased significantly in recent years, reports Adli. However, even in the countryside not everything is pure romance and some people who move from the big city to the countryside feel the rural structures as a psychological burden. (Fp)

Image: Maren Beßler