Loneliness and Single-Person Households: Issues of Kodokushi and Hikikomori in Japan

Abstract

In this book, we give you different perspectives on urban mental health from all around the world. Authors from different kinds of cities, both regarding size, geography, culture, and income, all present important issues in mental health and illness. However-and this is most important-they do not merely give you the usual summary of problems that researchers often tend to. They also give you their perspectives and suggestions for solutions. Today, more than half of the world's population live in cities. The ongoing urbanization occurs in parallel with an increase in the prevalence of mental illness. The question is then, if urban living may be associated with mental illness? In the book, we first present the historical evidence for an urban-rural difference in mental illness. We then explore the city environment and investigate a sample of challenges that are both important to mental health and frequently related to city living, such as single person households, traffic, noise, high rates of drug use and crime, homelessness, and limited access to green areas. These are all existing and perhaps even increasing challenges despite many politicians in power-and in opposition-are aware of the harmful effects, also on mental health. On the positive side, the city may offer opportunities for the prevention and treatment of mental illness that rural areas cannot. One such advantage lies within the organization of mental health services. In the middle section of the book, we therefore look at the mental health services of major cities and how these have developed over the past decades. As it turns out, the recent deinstitutionalization and growth of community mental health services has changed psychiatric services considerably-both for better and for worse. We highlight a few interesting initiatives that accommodate the current challenges, such as new model to find housing for homeless people. The final section of the book is dedicated to chapters we find to be particularly visionary, regarding real-life solutions aiming to improve mental health in the city. Throughout the book you will find opinions of what could-and should-be done toward the challenges presented in each of the chapters. Thus, it is our hope that by the end of reading the book, you will not only be more aware of the major problems of mental health and city living-you will also be encouraged that actions can be taken, that there are actual possibilities and solutions, and that we can each participate in improving mental health in the city. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)