FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2013

Contact: Hannah Curtis 123-234-4456

Do Cities Make Us Sick?

Studies Show Alarming Correlation Between Urbanization and Mental Illness
Rosewater, Mich. Studies have been unearthed supporting a correlation between urbanization and mental illness. Studies show many links between the stresses of city life and peoples susceptibility to mental illness, raising the question: citizens be concerned? According to an article published in the scientific journal, Nature, stress and anxiety can be gateways to serious mental ailments. A study was conducted in 1965 in Camberwell, a small corner distinct located in the labyrinth that is London, England. It began as a tally, a way to track Londons southbound sprawl. They took report of every individual in the district that was diagnosed with MORE

Urbanization and Mental Illness mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder or any other psychiatric condition. When psychiatrics looked back over the data many years later they were surprised to report that even though the population had not increased since the tally had first been recorded, the number of reported cases of individuals with schizophrenia had more than doubled (J. Boydell et al.Br. J. Psychiatry 182, 45 49; 2003). Closer investigation unearthed more interesting coincidences. In many ways, the connection between mental disorders and urbanization make sense. City life is known for its stressful nature. From increased crime rates, poverty not to mention the continuous noise; city life isnt for everyone. Many succumb to the fast pace way of life quickly. With growing demands in the work place, these possible variables often thought to be predictors of anxiety and stress may only increase from here, and ultimately, have a major affect on the way our families and children develop. Meyer-Lindenberg (US National Institute for Mental Health, Maryland) believes that this over activity to stress might make those born in cities more sensitive to mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. This is only more disturbing when paired with the likely idea that stress in childhood and or adolescence have major impacts on the development of the brain, therefore, increasing our susceptibility to psychiatric disease; something parents of Rosewater might find alarmingly detrimental to the development of their children, supporting the claim that urbanization might indeed be making their citizens ill. It is obvious from these case studies that expansion and urbanization may not be in the best interest for Rosewater and Rivertown. No aspect of life remains

Urbanization and Mental Illness untouched when it comes to expansion of an industry. With the looming possibility of expanding businesses, such as Poly Chemical, families of Rivertown and Rosewater should be wary for the sake of their children and their mental stability of their communities.

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