Sharing public spaces for emotional well-being

We are social being and at times, cities isolate us. Socialisation spaces are also important for citizens’ mental health. The ‘Guía para planificar ciudades saludables’ (Guide for planning healthy cities) published by the Spanish Healthy Cities Network, points out that one of the basic strategic lines “is the creation and promotion of spaces for coexistence, creating cities and districts that are more supportive and less unequal.”

To do this, they propose creating meeting spaces in buildings to share knowledge and experiences; and green spaces, squares or parks, as well as open sports areas in public spaces with elements that allow people to sit and encourage conversation, such as small auditoriums with stands where people can sit; spaces where young people can do sports, such as skateboarding or roller skating; or squares with fountains that can be used for playing in the summertime.