Abstract

One in five New Yorkers experiences mental illness in a given year.

Complex urban environments are considered linked to increased stress and anxiety levels, with car-oriented neighborhoods being further associated with chronic disease and lower community health.

In the complex framework of mental health needs, city scientists are trying to address the relation between socio-demographic and built environment characteristics with epidemiological data and the availability of healthcare of the citizen, with the goal of understanding the phenomenon and developing strategies to curb the growing insurgence of new and recurring cases.