Abstract

This research project is to examine the causes and symptoms of depression and offering the insights of how depression can cause serious harms to human beings as regards to thoughts, moods and behaviours. I am going to demonstrate a treatment which as effective as anti-depressant based on my secondary research.

 

The aim of this research project is to explore depression and find out the impacts of architecture and built environment that affects human's mental health. A survey will be conducted to study how human nature response and react through environment when facing emotional changes.

 

Introduction

The increased of individuals who suffered from depression has becoming a serious problem in our society. The most common definition of depression is extreme low mood. Depression sometimes comes along with other mental illness like anxiety and panic disorder (WebMD, 2016). The period of depression is varying from each person, it could be 2 to 3 weeks and sometimes maybe months. Sometimes depression could be identified by looking at the thoughts and behaviour of a person. According to a report, women are more likely to have suffered with depression than men (Moy, 2009).

 

There are people who less acknowledges them-self or accept the fact that they suffered from depression. Depression is more than sadness; untreated depression can develop into chronic mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, psychotic depression, etc (Paul, 2007, p. 9). Even a minor depressive disorder can lead a person into a darkness world and end up with serious types of side effects like suicide, self harm and substances abuse.

 

Depression can cause by many reasons, but most importantly, depression can be treated or at least alleviated. The two common ways of treating depression are in terms of medically or psychologically (therapy).

 

What are the impacts of architecture towards mental health?

 

Architecture and built environment played as a crucial part of treating depression. By incorporating the architectural elements such as lighting, colours, space, aesthetic value, sensory environment can help to reduce the intensity of depression as well as increasing the healing process (Marc, S., Laura, G. and Susan F., 2004, S-71&72). Further on my research I am going to explore how these elements increase healing process and what are the impacts of architecture towards mental health.