Urbanization and mental health in China

The rapid urbanization in China has profoundly transformed social structures, environmental conditions, and public health landscapes within a relatively brief period. While driving economic growth, it has also generated complex mental health challenges. We explored the multifaceted relationships between urbanization and mental health in China, highlighting spatial and demographic disparities, impact pathways, and intervention strategies.

Mental health outcomes are shaped not by a simple urban-rural divide but by many determinants such as age, gender, chronic illness, socioeconomic status, and stage of life. Vulnerable groups, including rural older adults, migrant workers, left-behind or migrant children, and urban youth, face elevated psychological risks from environmental stressors, social exclusion and institutional barriers. Key influences are likely to involve the physical environment, social system, economic factors and policy frameworks. In addition, intervention strategies emphasize both individual and structural approaches, such as community-based psychosocial support, urban greening, inclusive policy design, and integrated mental health governance. However, current research on their impacts remains constrained by methodological limitations.

This review underscores the need for equity-oriented approaches, interdisciplinary research and policy innovations to support community mental health within China's urbanization trajectory. Aligning public mental health strategies with national initiatives like "Healthy China 2030" and dual carbon goals is imperative to building inclusive and healthy urban environments for population mental well being and resilience.