SINGAPORE – The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) will conduct a three-year study on the impact of urban environments on mental health, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on June 3.
During the opening plenary of the World Cities Summit 2024 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mr. Heng outlined the study’s focus on factors such as urban design features, density, and human behaviors. He emphasized that the findings will inform the rejuvenation, reinvention, and reimagining of Singapore as a city-state.
Funded by the Government’s $28 billion Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan, the $1 million study was commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Board and awarded to AStar in May 2024. The research will be conducted by AStar’s Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) stated that the study aims to develop a data-driven method to assess how various aspects of the built environment affect the mental well-being of the population. Given Singapore’s dense urban landscape, the country presents a unique opportunity for such research.
MND noted that previous local research has primarily focused on the physical well-being impacts of the built environment and the benefits of greenery on mental health. This project aims to expand that knowledge by investigating a broader range of built environment aspects and their impacts on mental well-being.
As part of the study, researchers will develop a list of indicators linking the built environment to mental well-being. These indicators will help urban planners understand how factors such as facility provision, land use configuration, and development intensity might influence mental health.
The study’s findings will be validated against four ongoing Singapore cohort studies: Growing Up In Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes, Singapore Preconception Study Of Long-Term Maternal And Child Outcomes, Singapore Longitudinal Early Developmental Study, and Mapping Antenatal Maternal Stress. These studies have collected extensive data, including mental well-being indicators, from participants using validated questionnaires.
MND added that the new study’s findings will guide how authorities plan, design, and prioritize interventions in the built environment to create a healthier and more livable environment.
The three-day World Cities Summit, held biennially in Singapore, concludes on June 4. The 2024 edition has gathered city leaders, industry experts, and professionals from over 90 cities worldwide to discuss urban environment issues. Among the highlights was the Mayors Forum, chaired by National Development Minister Desmond Lee on June 2.
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