Experiential Understandings of Urban Public Space and In-Situ Mental Wellbeing for Young Adults Living With Mental Illness

It has become increasingly vital to promote positive mental wellbeing in cities worldwide as scholars have begun to determine that urban residency is associated with poor mental health, linking urban public space characteristics and usage to mental wellbeing. Participants (Toronto residents aged 18-30 with diagnosed mental illness) used the EthicaData smartphone application to capture in-situ experiential understandings of their everyday experiences in public spaces over two weeks. The research objectives are to 1) understand how public spaces meet (or do not) the specific needs of young Torontonians living with mental illness; and 2) understand how participants’ perceptions of public space as offering connection to nature, promoting physical activity, and facilitating social interaction impacts their mental wellbeing. As a frequently marginalized subpopulation, capturing everyday experiences of individuals living with mental illness in public spaces offers insight into building truly inclusive public spaces for the entire population.