Introduction: Rapid urbanization presents a considerable challenge for public mental health. This study aimed to map the intellectual structure and evolution of research linking mental health to urban environments across a 66-year longitudinal perspective (1957–2023).
Methods: A dual-stage analysis was conducted on 923 Scopus-retrieved documents. First, quantitative bibliometric mapping (using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny) evaluated thematic trends and collaborative networks. Second, a qualitative content analysis of the most-cited sources was performed to categorize environmental threats and controlling features.
Results: A definitive spatial turn was identified, illustrating a shift from broad psychiatric observations to targeted spatial interventions. While daily urban stressors (e.g., stress, depression) are prominent, urban green spaces emerged as the main controlling feature, heavily reliant on integrated physical activity, walkability, and social cohesion. Crucially, the literature reveals severe methodological (an 80% dominance of quantitative methods over qualitative) and geographical (critical underrepresentation of the Global South) gaps.
Conclusion: Moving beyond generic nature-based solutions, this study demonstrates that effective urban mental health requires restorative, cohesive spatial planning. The significance of this study lies in identifying these structural gaps, providing a clear mandate for mixed-methods research and localized Global South studies to develop equitable, globally applicable healthycity frameworks.