mental health rural v. city living

[tiggerific]

being brought up and living in a rural area, I only know of one person who has had any mental health problems, I do not know anyone suffering from depression other than short term baby blues. I found this quite interesting as people I know who live in cities seem to know a lot of people with varying mental health problems.
I was wondering if anyone has noticed this and what could be the reasons other than just a busy lifestyle.

One of the theories on this is down to a lack of vitamin d as city dwellers tend to spend more time indoors than those in rural areas.
What are the other possibilities, or lifestyle factors do you think may affect this??

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110622/full/474429a.html

 

[panic in paradise]

this is interesting, but my first thought is how much more populated a city is, and that because of this you are able to meet more people who may have mental health issues.

i see what you and this article are saying, but i could make a list of pros and cons for either - personally i feel more safe in a city, and would feel more assured my mental health issues would be addressed in one as-well.

 

[DrunkardsDream]

When I lived in a rural area I was basically a high functioning alcoholic and highly depressed, and I knew a lot of other people who were in the same situation there.

No I don't drink as much as I used to back then.

 

[addictivepersona]

Interesting article, tigger!

It'll be interesting to read the subsequent studies. :)

 

[purple_cloud]

I was born and raised in NYC, and I think certain lifestyle factors have definitely added to my mental illnesses/issues. Things are always busy and fast, everything is congested, and there's not much silence. At all hours of the night, you hear emergency vehicles, airplanes, and general noise outside on the street. Things are never actually peaceful. There is also a lot of competition --- schools are overcrowded and crammed, and teachers don't have much time to spend with individual students; essentially people just get lost in the crowd. Living in a suburban area for my college years allowed me to sleep more peacefully, look at the stars, and enjoy the sounds of nature, as well as silence. Schools are also not homogeneous, so at times it's difficult to find someone you have a lot in common with. Yes, there are more people than in rural locations, but also many different cultures --- school children often get told not to speak to/become friends with people of another race or identity, so a "melting pot" really becomes more of a "tossed salad."

Also, if you just want to "be alone" somewhere...you aren't going to find that. Everything is always going, constantly. If you want to go somewhere, it's several hours waiting for public transportation, or sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, at times even just to get to the grocery store.

This is sort of a scrambled thought, but today is my first day living back in NYC, and the idea that driving 2 miles to have lunch with my grandparents is going to take about 15-20 minutes due to traffic, narrow streets with cars parked on both sides, and a stoplight or stop sign on every single corner, has me really hating city living, and missing suburbia.

 

[addictivepersona]

^ If it took me 15-20 minutes to drive two miles, I'd get rid of my car and bike/walk everywhere.

Interesting viewpoint, p_c. :)

I lived in Buffalo, NY for the '06-'07 school year. There was constant noise. I remember at orientation getting woken up at 5:30 in the morning by this horrific noise--Loud scraping, huge thundering noises... It was a garbage truck five stories below me. 8( (Where I live, the garbage trucks don't go directly by my house.) I eventually got used to some of the noise, but I still much prefer where I live now (which is outside of a small town [under 6000 people]).

 

[purple_cloud]

^ The walk would be pretty much uphill, and my luck I'd get hit by a car while trying to do so (pedestrians have the right of way? maybe if I'm the person driving and I stop for them, but I've seen people in crosswalks almost get run over, and have had to dodge vehicles myself.) Even when I've stayed over friend's houses in Buffalo proper (not the northtowns where I lived for 6 years) the noise didn't really bother me. It still seemed "suburban" compared to what I'm used to --- you can find a parking spot in downtown Buffalo with little effort! I think in NYC $.25 gets you about 10 minutes on a meter at this point, and forget the lots in Manhattan, way overpriced. Plus, our public transportation has skyrocketed in cost but there's less service so more wait time.

Last night I was too exhausted to care, but tonight I'm gonna be really sad when I look up at the sky and see nothing because of the city lights. Perhaps this adds to the mental health issues as well --- lack of nature. Everything is paved, and especially during the summer people tend to spend a lot of time inside because the city seemingly traps in the heat, and it can get unbearable out there. If you want to go to the beach (my dad just left to head there today) you are either gonna pay a lot for parking, or get frustrated by lack of finding a free parking space. Not even our fucking beaches are easy to get to. I should probably back off this thread today, instead of going on for hours about how city living is toxic to one's mental health.

Also, in rural/suburban areas, it seems as if people actually communicate with the few neighbors they may have. Here, our neighbors turn their heads, and so do we...so I think our little urban "communities," at least in the outer-boros of NYC, lack a true sense of community. I know this isn't necessarily true everywhere (8+ million people?) but where I live, it's definitely true.

 

[addictivepersona]

^ I know I'm perfectly okay with you rambling in this thread, as I think it's interesting to hear about the way "the other half lives."

If I were you, I'd still walk it. Though I'm currently debating biking 15 miles to a store. I need to go to the store and I need a long bike ride anyways. It's a debate. LOL, speaking of rambling, ANYWAYS.

The neighbor thing is a huge and interesting subject, though not everyone in the suburbs talks with their neighbors. Once had a discussion with a teacher of mine about how people come home from work and drive into their driveways and don't even wave/nod to their neighbors... Where I live, I have quite a few very close (in physical proximity) neighbors. Fifteen years ago (yes, I've lived in the same place for that long) I could've told you 80% of my neighbor's first names and what they're like. Now, I could probably tell you 50%. I've gradually quit interacting with the majority of my neighbors because I get the feeling they don't want to interact with me. I walk my dog around the neighborhood and it's amazing the people I see and say hello to who won't even give me the time of day--Though there are also people who will want to stop and talk even if our dogs do not want us talking, lol.

/Rambling from me. Carry on.

 

[purple_cloud]

Ah, I can continue rambling, since I've always been bitter about growing up in an urban area. And, the other reason I wouldn't walk it is because I would have to walk back home later, which brings me to my next point as to why city living sucks balls: CRIME. I have to watch my back walking up to my own house at night, and several years ago someone on a bike got along side me and grabbed one of my breasts and tried to follow me home. Also several years ago, a homeless person was passed out on our front lawn, and emergency services refused to come unless my mom (may she rest in peace) and I were willing to go out there to try to wake him up and talk to him, although we had no way of knowing if he had a weapon or not. People have been stabbed within blocks of here, in broad daylight and night time. For someone who worries constantly about everything with 4 necessary locks on the door, living somewhere with a high crime rate is a big deal. Yes, NYC has a lower crime rate than many other cities, but that's purely because of size I think...with so many millions of people, even if many more are killed/mugged/raped/etc here than elsewhere, the population size makes the percentage lower, so things seem better than they actually are.

 

[tiggerific]

When I lived in a rural area I was basically a high functioning alcoholic and highly depressed, and I knew a lot of other people who were in the same situation there.

No I don't drink as much as I used to back then.

I must admit there are a lot of people who drink more, we tend to have a lot of get togethers for the sole purpose of drinking lol.

What ap and pc saying though brings up lots of other points as well, I always wonder how much of these other areas are brought into these studies.
I avoid visiting friends and families in towns as I find it difficult to sleep with constant traffic, street lights are one of the most annoying thing to me as well as the compulsive beeping of vehicles reversing ggrrr.

I know I do talk to my neighbours a lot more often than friends and family in the towns and cities, I know their names, birthdays their kids names etc. When someone is ill you tend to find you have dinner cooked for you every night of the week till you are better. Or if you move in and are waiting for your cooker and washing machine to get installed, I know I have done this for others, which is allow them the use of ours and happily dropped off meals. From what I see and hear seems like that is not a common thing in towns which I think going from what I am used to, I would struggle a bit not knowing my neighbours.

I remember I hired a girl one year, when I was taking everyone out for a picnic the look of horror on her face climbing a hill after a 3 mile walk was a kodak moment lol. She spent days off in the caravan as she did not like walking anywhere, felt sorry for her, but she stayed till the end

 

[euphoria]

When I lived in a rural area I was basically a high functioning alcoholic and highly depressed, and I knew a lot of other people who were in the same situation there.

No I don't drink as much as I used to back then.

same. ive never lived in a straight up rural area, but i grew up in a very small town that was completely surrounded by rural areas. so i basically always hung out in rural areas. while im a total hippie at heart and nature is my home, i will say that while growing up the general lack of 'things to do' definitely contributed to my and my friends growing use of drugs. ive always been a very creative individual and been able to entertain myself with very little, even just my own imagination. but id definitely say that once i moved to a city when i got a little older i began to find lots of other things to do besides drugs all the time. this also includes me self medicating some mental problems that ive had my entire life and am still dealing with. i think i began to understand and be able to cope with my mental problems much better when i moved to a city and met lots of new types of people. i started to learn more about other people's lives compared to mine. it helped put things into perspective. anyways, this is a really interesting article. and despite what i have just said... the fact that being surrounded by nature instantly calms me and cities are just too chaotic for me, i believe that i will settle down in a rural area. :D

 

[Wizzle]

Ah, I can continue rambling, since I've always been bitter about growing up in an urban area. And, the other reason I wouldn't walk it is because I would have to walk back home later, which brings me to my next point as to why city living sucks balls: CRIME. I have to watch my back walking up to my own house at night, and several years ago someone on a bike got along side me and grabbed one of my breasts and tried to follow me home. Also several years ago, a homeless person was passed out on our front lawn, and emergency services refused to come unless my mom (may she rest in peace) and I were willing to go out there to try to wake him up and talk to him, although we had no way of knowing if he had a weapon or not. People have been stabbed within blocks of here, in broad daylight and night time. For someone who worries constantly about everything with 4 necessary locks on the door, living somewhere with a high crime rate is a big deal. Yes, NYC has a lower crime rate than many other cities, but that's purely because of size I think...with so many millions of people, even if many more are killed/mugged/raped/etc here than elsewhere, the population size makes the percentage lower, so things seem better than they actually are.

I see this the other way around.. I believe cities seem more dangerous because there are more people per square mile.

I like to live in a city, although I can imagine some places having too much noise, especially at night.. However, I cannot see how someone would be bothered a lot by street lights and such, curtains are your friend

I very much believe the increased rate of mental problems in city folk are caused by a lack of exercise and a lack of being outside. Cities have parks. Use them.

 

[purple_cloud]

^ Our city parks DO close at a certain hour, because of crime incidents. I don't know that they just seem more dangerous, since in my personal experience they actually are.

Last night, I was driving home around midnight from Eastern Long Island back into NYC...I hit NYC and guess what? DEAD FUCKING BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I doubt that could ever happen outside of a city, and if it did people would at least be somewhat polite about it. I forgot that going 10 over the speed limit puts me in the right lane getting tailgated, and the slowest car on the road for sure.

 

[addictivepersona]

^ Bumper to bumper traffic at midnight?! WTF. I can bike in the middle of the roads at midnight here!

 

[tiggerific]

that kind of traffic would drive me nuts. its a busy day on the roads here when you see 30 cars pass your house, thats tourist season and I know they are lost lol. At midnight though I would be crying at that. I get stressed driving in Inverness when its busy but after about 7pm there is very little on the roads.

Someone mentioned above about curtains, everytime I have stayed with a friend or family member they never have blackout curtains so street lights do come into the room which I find it very difficult to sleep as I am used to darkness. In summer time I struggle to sleep unless I have my blackout curtains drawn, in winter my curtains are never shut though. The other thing I dislike about towns and find annoying is when you do go for a walk at night you can hardly see the stars at all

 

[attempt4]

^ Our city parks DO close at a certain hour, because of crime incidents. I don't know that they just seem more dangerous, since in my personal experience they actually are.

Last night, I was driving home around midnight from Eastern Long Island back into NYC...I hit NYC and guess what? DEAD FUCKING BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I doubt that could ever happen outside of a city, and if it did people would at least be somewhat polite about it. I forgot that going 10 over the speed limit puts me in the right lane getting tailgated, and the slowest car on the road for sure.

Is moving somewhere more rural a viable and considerable option for you?

I could not and WOULD NOT EVER live in a busy city. Ever.

Fuck that noise. My brother lives in Glasgow (which I'm assuming is like a countryside meadow compared to the likes of NYC) and I despise it....

I live in the Highlands on Scotland surrounded by rolling hills, endless woodlands, eternal fields of heather, grass and wheat with wild goat, deer, beavers, otters, red squirrels, wild cat and mice, shrews and pine marten. It's fucking excellent and I definitely do not take it for granted....every day I walk in the woods and every day I praise mother earth and thank her for these blessings.
However It's not TOTALLY desolate at alll...i'm a 5 minute drive from a city which is the perfect size really....pretty big, but not too big or too small and is surrounded on all sides by these woodlands and fields I spoke about so it's the perfect equilibrium between busy and quiet.

 

[purple_cloud]

Is moving somewhere more rural a viable and considerable option for you?

No, not at all whatsoever. I had to move back in with my family, and they all live in NYC. Without any money, I cannot move out, and will be here until further notice. So, although I want to move, I really can't unless my family would be willing to pay for me to live elsewhere, which isn't going to happen.

 

[rm-rf]

i was raised in an environment where i was immersed in nature


now i live in one of the biggest cities in the world. 5 years and im starting to go insane; concrete, asphalt, metal, these things drain the life out of the atmosphere enough on their own, let alone the pollution and decay the city emits. Add in the intense electromagnetic fields emitted by everything from WiFi to neon lights to power lines, and you have one giant chi-draining machine.

The moment I step into any sort of park, wooded area, or vacation away in a forest or jungle, i feel re-harmonized and am able to realign with all of the negative ionic energy in the atmosphere. The moment I return to the city, I can feel the wall of positive ionic energy slam me and begin the soul-sucking once more.

Cities are vampires. I feel for people who have grown up there and known nothing else. Existing in an environment without millions of other diverse lifeforms is a physical and spiritual prison.

Yet, I survive. The end result is Im a total asshole with zero patience, no tolerance for anything, highly judgmental, and illogically aggressive. Cities make my brain lean much more towards the type-A personality, while when I am in a more Earthen, natural environment, I am type-neutral, rational, patient, and empathetic.

While this place is dead in the biodiversity department, the female diversity department makes up for it

 

[attempt4]

I would actually like to add that the smaller, rural areas in Scotland are the areas with the highest rates of depression and where I come from originally had the highest rate of diagnosed depression in the whole of UK for a while, whilst also being incredibly rural and quiet.

I would actually surmise that the only reason there appear to be more depressed citizens in cities is simply due to the greater population and thus higher chance of encountering varying mental conditions.
But in my experience, the smaller the area, the more depressed the people tend to be.

 

[rm-rf]

gotta take more into consideration than that. yes, the energies of other bodies will have an effect on your own, but consider the stress levels of urbanites, dietary habits (how much time do you spend relaxing while food digests vs shoving it down your throat and marching back to the rat race?), exposure to EM fields, noise pollution (i spend many hours of my life in a subway), attention to physical threats vs relaxing (thief, assault, etc), stress in the workplace, exposure to constant particulate matter in the lungs, etc...

urbanites take many more "hits" throughout the day than ruralites.

you mention rural scotland - how wide open is the space there? for some reason im picturing it with vast, open areas, sort of like iceland or norway/sweden. try living in a forested area, with lots of compact biodiversity in a small reigon. the EM activity given off from other lifeforms will better harmonize the frequencies of your cellular activity than in a wide open space devoid of life.

i havent even brushed up against sunlight yet...