The role of urban design on mental health: A Proposed Conceptual Framework for the relationship between urban environmental qualities and mental health of city-dwellers, with emphasis on depression

The city, as a place of residence, work, leisure and communication, has a significant impact on the mental health and mental ill-health of citizens. Nowadays the growth and expansion of urban environment and urbanization, especially in developing countries, has created a wide range of factors threatening MH. Thus, mental disorders are prevalent diseases in cities, and depression is the most common of them. Nevertheless, most studies have focused on physical health and paid less attention to the psychological effects of urban environments. In addition, existing studies, with emphasis on quantitative aspects of environment, have rarely examined its qualitative characteristics. Therefore, the purpose of this study is, firstly, to analyze the relationship between urban environmental qualities and MH with emphasis on depression, and secondly, to develop a conceptual framework for promoting MH in urban design. The current study is a qualitative review. Data were collected through desk study of reliable scientific papers, and qualitative content analysis was use to identify environmental qualities and how they affect MH. The results indicate that the quality of the built environment is one of factors in the mid-scale that, along with other factors at the micro and macro levels, has a synergistic effect on MH of city-dwellers. In this connection, permeability, safety, security, richness, aesthetic, climate comfort, and sociability are the most important environmental qualities. These qualities directly and indirectly affect depression and MH, so that in indirect relationship, physical activity, social interactions, sleep quality, resilience to stress and mood, are mediating factors that causes possibility and sustainability of the impact of environmental qualities on MH. this evidence supports the necessity of improvement of environmental quality to prevent and treat depression of city-dwellers and confirm the role of urban design, as effective way to promote good MH of the general public exposed to the environment.