8 Best Cities That Promote Mental Health And Wellness

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You could have a beautiful home, a fat checking account, the “perfect” body and a dream job – but what is any of that without good mental health? A stable, happy brain is the lens through which we experience everything in life. That’s why mental health should be a top priority for all – above getting your money right or losing those final 10 pounds. Unfortunately, the data shows that globally, mental health might not be receiving the attention and resources it needs. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that one in five American adults live with a mental illness, and 16 million Americans live with depression. NAMI also reports that Black people face more stigmatization surrounding mental health issues than other racial groups and often receive compromised care.

In some cases, the assistance of a mental health professional, paired with medication, is necessary. However, there are things one can do to naturally improve their mental well-being. Simply put, there are some resources every human being needs to feel well – resources that we’re often deprived of in our busy, industrial society. Some cities allow more access to mental health-boosting elements than others. Lawn care company Lawnstarter, released a report on the best cities for mental health (find the full list here). Here’s a list of the top 8 and exactly makes them so good for one’s mental health.

Mental Health Factors To Consider

Family living in one of the best cities for mental health

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The survey exploring the best cities for mental health analyzed several factors in determining happiness and stability levels. Even if you do not live in one of these cities, there’s something to be learned about what the residents of these spots are doing correctly. You might not be able to change the entire culture in your town, but you can borrow some of the practices from these mentally well cities. Common elements found in the top mentally healthy cities include:

A Low divorce rate. Having a happy marriage is a big contributor to feeling good. In fact, a report released by the Institute for Family Studies found that married people are overall happier than unmarried people, including those who are divorced, widowed or separated.
Financial stability. Not surprisingly, being free of money worries is a leading contributor to feeling mentally well. Some of the top cities on this list see some of the highest financial stability.
Access to mental health services. Expecting perfect mental health all of the time isn’t reasonable for any place. But some of the top cities on this list mitigate mental health issues by having access to excellent mental health resources.
Access to green spaces. It’s long been known that humans evolved to crave access to the outdoors. In fact, NAMI reports that there are several studies showing a link between time spent outdoors and reduced depression and anxiety.
An exercise-centric culture. If you can spend that time outdoors pumping iron, even better. Some of the top cities on this list are big on exercise and fitness. It’s been shown that exercise releases chemicals in the brain that promote happiness.
Sufficient sleep. Some of the most mentally well cities get enough sleep. The Sleep Foundation reports that a lack of sleep can lead to increased mental health issues and that mental health issues can lead to poor sleep, so the two have a close and important connection.
A mindfulness culture. Cities (many West Coast ones) that have a big mindfulness culture where activities like yoga and meditation are popular topped the list.

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The Top 8 Cities For Mental Health

Beautiful Latin-American woman in the city

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Naperville, IL

Road By Trees And Buildings Against Sky During Sunset

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Naperville ticks off many of the boxes on our list of mental wellness factors. A beautiful suburban area, it’s well known for its parks that allow all residents plenty of access to uplifting greenery. The majority of Naperville residents own their homes (there’s that financial stability at play). Plus, it offers a nice combination of things to do, with tons of delicious restaurants and coffee shops along with museums and libraries, with a peaceful suburban feel.

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Pasadena, CA

Downtown Pasadena Aerial With Mountains and Park

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Just a short drive from the buzzing area of metropolitan Los Angeles is Pasadena, a pristine suburban paradise known for safe and quiet streets, beautiful homes and plenty of outdoor spaces. Being near LA puts Pasadena in the group of cities that is big on meditation, yoga and other mindfulness activities. In fact, its world-famous Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens is a popular place to meditate amidst stunning natural landscapes.

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Seattle, WA

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It turns out that the rainy weather of Seattle doesn’t bring the residents down too much. What the city lacks in sunshine it makes up for with a community that loves exercise paired with plenty of public and well-kept green spaces. The rain might even contribute to one of the other mental health-boosting factors here: Seattle residents sleep well. A study from the University of Melbourne found that the sounds of rain have a calming effect and help people fall asleep quickly.

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Fremont, CA

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The sunny state of California tops the list again with the city of Fremont. Fremont is just about a 45-minute drive from San Francisco, so residents can access the busy city life when they’re craving it. However, Fremont itself is a quiet and peaceful area with excellent public schools, plenty of stunning parks and gorgeous hiking paths that even San Francisco residents venture out of the city to access. This is another city that prioritizes fitness and sees a low divorce rate.

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San Francisco, CA

The Golden Gate Bridge Above The Water And Covered In Fog.

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Barely 40 miles away from our number four spot sits San Francisco. In spite of a high cost of living and increasing poverty problem, San Francisco tops our list thanks to a focus on mindfulness and a fit-centric culture. San Francisco residents also report getting sufficient sleep and having ample access to therapy and other mental health resources.

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Bellevue, WA

Usa, Idaho, Bellevue, White puffy clouds over landscape near Sun Valley

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Bellevue, Washington offers the opportunity and entertainment of a city along with the beauty and serenity of the suburbs. It boasts large public lawns and gardens throughout the city, and even a waterfall, so mood-boosting nature is never far away. Additionally, Bellevue residents enjoy financial stability, good sleep and access to therapy.

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Alexandria, VA

Fairfax County Hopes to Rebrand The Route One Area of South Fairfax County

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Just under a half-hour’s drive from Washington D.C., Alexandria offers a peaceful, suburban life that’s never far from the action of a big city when you want it. It’s a haven for nature lovers, with plenty of public green spaces. In fact, it ranked number one for exercise opportunities. Residents here also report getting good sleep and enjoying financial stability.

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Irvine, CA

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Here comes California again. Irvine is about a 20-minute drive from the happiest place on earth (Disneyland) and boats a low unemployment rate, low divorce rates and plenty of green spaces. It is an expansive residential area with plenty of pockets of activities like shopping plazas and restaurants. Plus, it’s less than 10 miles from Newport Beach for those who want some sun and waves.

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The Best Cities For Mental Health