The Impact of Urbanization on Mental Health Outcomes in Canadian Cities: A Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Urbanization, which is the increasing proportion of people living in urban areas, is rapidly occurring in Canadian society. Currently, nearly 74% of Canadians live in large urban centres. Research has linked urban environments to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and social isolation. While research on urbanization and mental health currently exists, there is a lack of research on the relationship examined in the Canadian context. The aim of this literature review is to investigate peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 to understand how urbanization impacts mental health in Canada.

Methods: The PubMed and PsychINFO databases were utilized for the literature search. The inclusion criteria were empirical studies that focused on the Canadian population, were published between 2015 and 2025, and were relevant to the research topic. Exclusion criteria were papers from non-journal article sources such as textbooks, dissertations, reports and opinion pieces, and studies involving non-Canadian participants.

Results: From the 67 search results that were screened, 11 articles were selected for review. 5 key themes were identified: greenspace exposure, sense of community belonging, psychosocial recovery from injury or illness, maternal and child outcomes, and pandemic-related factors. The mental health effects of urbanization were found to vary by age and health status.

Discussion: The consistent themes amongst the selected articles were as follows: (1) greenspace exposure is beneficial but unevenly distributed, (2) sense of community belonging operates as a critical pathway, and (3) vulnerability to urban stressors varies by age, health status, and socioeconomic position. While the selection of articles of various study designs, research scopes and participant demographics provided a holistic perspective on the research topic, it also posed limitations when comparing findings across papers. Further research is required in order to consolidate the associations identified in this review.

Conclusion: Overall, literature has identified relationships between urbanization and mental health through factors such as vegetation, community networks, and maternal interpersonal violence. However, urbanization on mental health in Canada are complex, multidimensional, and context dependent. Further Canada-specific research is necessary to clarify causal pathways and guide urban planning strategies that support mental health across diverse populations.