An Urban Psychology Summit: City, Psychology, Place

27 June 2019, University of Liverpool in London, Finsbury Square, London

The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place invites you to Register for a FREE one-day ‘Urban Psychology Summit’, in partnership with Chris Murray and Charles Landry, to be held at the University of Liverpool’s London Campus on Thursday 27 June 2019.

We live, it is said, in a New Urban Age; we are now a predominantly urban species. Yet we know astonishingly little about the impacts of urban processes on the existential, emotional and psychological make-up of city-residents. A greater knowledge of the interface between these might inform policy and practice to improve human wellbeing. Homo-urbanus is clearly a complex species: cities can foster a psychological hardiness, but equally, concerns are increasing over poor levels of mental health. Indeed, according to some claims, urban melancholy marked by heightened stress, anxiety, depression, nervous exhaustion and burnout, could be twice as problematic for urban than non-urban dwellers. The physical environment of cities intersects with social and economic processes to create an ‘urban psychology’ which will also be shaped by the spatiality of wider problems of inequality, poverty, and social exclusion. There is a growing appreciation that these different dimensions combine to create a lived experience of urban landscapes that can be arid as well as therapeutic, and that environments which nurture wellbeing are good for social cohesion and economic productivity and growth.

This summit aims to start a productive dialogue between key stakeholders to address our knowledge gaps about cities and their psychological impacts, drawing upon an emerging evidence base and best-practice examples to compile a compendium of practical policy tools, instruments and approaches, and ultimately, shaping a shared vision and agenda for action to humanise and human-proof our cities. The programme is centred on the key challenges, the evidence base, and the opportunity, with participatory discussions on deprivation and mental health; productivity, people and place; and creating the therapeutic city, amongst other vitally important topics implicating urban psychology.

Confirmed Speakers:
Leading academics, policy-makers, public health and industry professionals, from the UK and internationally, are already confirmed as speakers, including:

  • Mindy Fullilove, Professor of Urban Policy & Health, The New School, New York
  • Tim Kendall, National Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS England
  • Jon Rouse, Chief Officer, Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
  • Charles Landry, Pioneering Urbanist Thinker
  • Mark Boyle, Professor of Urban Studies, Director of the Heseltine Institute, University of Liverpool
  • Chris Murray, Director of Core Cities UK, Heseltine Institute fellow
  • Paula Reavey, Professor of Psychology, London South Bank University
  • Steve Brown, Professor of Social & Organisational Psychology, The Open University
  • Ron Martin, Professor of Economic Geography, University of Cambridge

The event is open to all stakeholders interested in cities, urban psychology, place-making and mental health, including academics, health service professionals, planners, psychologists, combined authorities, local authority and LEP personnel, local politicians and elected members, researchers and consultants, and national politicians and civil servants.

Tea/coffee and a light lunch will be provided.

This event is FREE to attend but registration is essential at - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-urban-psychology-summit