Author(s)

Weidong Wang, Yuxin Zhang

Corresponding Author

Yuxin Zhang

Abstract

While urbanization drives economic and social development, it also exacerbates residents' mental health issues. However, urban ecosystems play a significant role in alleviating emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. This study reviews the development stages, research objects, research methods, and impact mechanisms of mental health services provided by urban ecosystems. Research shows that the number of relevant achievements has increased year by year, with a particularly significant growth after 2017. The research topics have evolved from basic explorations to in-depth studies on the impacts of specific ecological elements and the complex relationships between systems. The research objects cover various communities and specific groups such as women, adolescents, college students, and low-income groups. The research methods mainly include neurological-level brain imaging analysis and behavior-based questionnaires, interviews. Urban ecosystems affect mental health through cumulative and comprehensive effects, via pathways such as sensory stimulation from the natural environment, promotion of physical activities, as well as social interactions and community support in the social environment. Current research has limitations, such as insufficient attention to specific groups and inadequate exploration of mechanisms. Future studies need to strengthen the comprehensive research on natural and social environments, analysis of differences among specific groups, and integration of ecological services with urban design.

Keywords

urban ecosystem; mental health services; green spaces; water bodies