RAPID urbanization, an increase in the number of young professionals who live alone and social-media adoption are often cited as causes adversely affecting mental health in big cities, according to dormitory operator MyTown.
In its survey, it found that 2 out of 3 of its tenants feel less lonely now that they live at My Town and over 80 percent see its place as a “home away from home.”
“Most of us have experienced loneliness or depression, either first-hand or in our immediate surrounding. Our goal is for MyTown to be a way for people to find a community and support network in the big city. By driving this sense of community and belonging through our building designs and tenant events, we successfully lower the threshold for people to engage with others and have our tenants feel supported and connected,” Jelmer Ikink, group director of the company behind MyTown, the SM-led Philippines Urban Living Solutions.
Shared accommodation, also called coliving, gives tenants their own space within a larger building with communal areas, amenities, activities and events, providing a range of social benefits that help to reduce loneliness, it said.
The World Health Organization listed social support networks as one of the factors that determine health and happiness. Mental health is especially problematic among millennials and Gen Z, according to the WHO.
“Our survey shows that most tenants go to our events alone and that’s big reason for joining these activities is to meet new friends. From movie and trivia nights to parties and community outreach activities, each tenant has the opportunity to connect and engage with others, create a supportive network and maintain a social life,” Drixel Ortega, chief customer officer at MyTown, said.
MyTown, in observance of World Mental Health Month, conducted a lecture series, in partnership with the Philippine Mental Health Association, and held an extensive survey among its thousands of tenants to help raise awareness and foster discussions on the importance of mental health in the Philippines.