Strategic Assessment of Neighbourhood Environmental Impacts on Mental Health in the Lisbon Region (Portugal): A Strategic Focus and Assessment Framework at the Local Level

Adriana Loureiro, Maria do Rosário Partidário and Paula Santana
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Adriana Loureiro: Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT) and Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Colégio de São Jerónimo, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal
Maria do Rosário Partidário: Centre for Innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture of IST (CiTUA-IST) and Department of Civil Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Paula Santana: Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT) and Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Colégio de São Jerónimo, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: Scientific evidence shows that each place/environment generates specific conditions with associated impacts on the mental health and well-being of the population. A holistic, multilevel and integrated environmental approach to mental health enhances the understanding of this phenomena, supporting the local decision-making processes to improve spatial planning of neighbourhood environments. The aim of this study is to develop a strategic assessment framework, based on four municipalities in the Lisbon Region (Portugal), that explores policy and planning initiatives capable of generating favourable neighbourhood environmental conditions for mental health while also detecting risks. Using baseline results of significant statistical associations between individuals’ perceptions of their neighbourhood environment and their mental health in the Lisbon Region, a Strategic Focus on Environmental and Mental Health Assessment framework (SEmHA) was built, by applying the methodology “Strategic Thinking for Sustainability” in Strategic Environmental Assessment, developed by Partidário in 2012. Taking into account the promotion of the population’s mental health, four critical decision factors of neighbourhood environments were identified: (1) public space quality (e.g., improving sense of place), (2) physical environment quality (e.g., low levels of noise exposure), (3) professional qualification and creation of economic activities (e.g., attracting new economic activities), and (4) services and facilities (e.g., improving access to health and education services). The proposed strategic focus and assessment framework contributes to ensuring that interventions in neighbourhood environments truly achieve community mental health benefits and reduce inequalities, thus helping policy makers to assess impacts at the local level.

Keywords: integrated assessment; strategic environmental assessment; health impact assessment; mental health; neighbourhood environment; Lisbon region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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