Life in Saudi Cities: How Urban Growth Is Messing with Our Minds

diyashamald
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posted on 1 month ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Urbanization is when people ditch small towns or villages for the big city. In Saudi Arabia, it’s happening fast. Thanks to Vision 2030 and a booming economy, cities are packed with new faces chasing jobs or better schools.

Picture this: you’re stuck in traffic in Riyadh, horns blaring, and the sun’s beating down. You’re late for work, and your phone’s buzzing with notifications. Sound familiar? That’s city life in Saudi Arabia these days. Cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam are growing like crazy, with new buildings, jobs, and opportunities popping up everywhere. But all this urban growth—what we call urbanization—isn’t just changing the skyline. It’s messing with our mental health, too. Let’s dive into what’s going on, why it’s hitting us hard, and how we can keep our heads above water.<h2>What’s the Deal with Urbanization?</h2>Urbanization is when people ditch small towns or villages for the big city. In Saudi Arabia, it’s happening fast. Thanks to Vision 2030 and a booming economy, cities are packed with new faces chasing jobs or better schools. By 2030, most Saudis will probably live in urban areas. Sounds exciting, right? But it’s not all shiny skyscrapers and coffee shops. City life can stress you out, make you feel lonely, or leave you frazzled. Knowing what we’re up against can help us deal.<h2>Why Cities Can Stress You Out</h2>I read this study from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey, and it hit me: about 3 in 10 people in Riyadh are dealing with some kind of mental health struggle. That’s a lot, and many of these issues are serious. So, what’s making city life so tough on our minds? Here’s the breakdown:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Noise That Never Stops: Between car horns, construction, and crowded streets, cities are loud. That constant racket can keep you up at night, making you cranky or anxious.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Feeling Like You’re on Your Own: Moving to a city often means leaving your family or childhood friends behind. Without them, it’s easy to feel like nobody’s got your back.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Bills, Bills, Bills: Cities like Jeddah or Dammam aren’t cheap. Rent, food, and transport costs add up, and that money stress can weigh you down.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Missing Nature: A walk in a park can calm you down, but lots of Saudi cities don’t have enough green spaces. No trees, no chill.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Scary Stuff Happens: Cities can expose you to things like car accidents or crime. Those moments stick with you and might even trigger bigger issues like stress disorders.</li></ul>Anxiety and depression are super common in places like Riyadh. Women, young folks, and people who’ve been through rough patches—like a divorce—seem to feel it the most. One study said over 40% of women in Riyadh are dealing with feeling low or sad.<h2>What’s Making It Worse?</h2>There are a few big reasons city life can get under your skin. Let’s talk about them:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Sleepless Nights: Loud traffic and bright streetlights make it hard to catch a good night’s sleep. I saw a study that said 1 in 10 city folks get less than six hours of shut-eye, which messes with your mood.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Some Have More Than Others: Cities have fancy areas and struggling ones. If you’re in a tougher neighborhood, you might feel left out or unsafe, which isn’t great for your headspace.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">New Faces, New Rules: Cities mix all kinds of people, which is awesome but can feel overwhelming. Fitting in when everyone’s different takes effort.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hard to Get Help: Cities have more doctors than small towns, but finding the <a href="https://www.asprishealthcare.sa/en/meet-the-team/">best psychiatrist in Riyadh</a> can feel like a treasure hunt. Long waits and stigma don’t help.</li></ul><h2>Who’s Getting Hit Hardest?</h2>Not everyone feels the same pinch from city life. Here’s who’s struggling the most:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Young Folks: Teens and 20-somethings are under a ton of pressure—school, jobs, social media. One study said 40% of young Saudis have mental health challenges.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Women: City life can be extra tough for women, juggling work, family, or safety worries. Getting <a href="https://www.asprishealthcare.sa/en/mental-health-services/anxiety-treatment/">anxiety disorder treatment</a> isn’t always easy, either.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Older People: If your kids move to the city, you might feel left behind in a village. Even in cities, elderly folks can feel lonely or stuck.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;">Those With Less: Poorer neighborhoods deal with more crime or bad housing, which piles on mental stress.</li></ul><h2>The Upside of City Life</h2>Okay, it’s not all bad. Living in a city has some perks that can actually help your mental health:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">More Doctors Around: Cities have clinics and counselors you won’t find in small towns. Help’s closer if you need it.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cool Mix of People: Meeting folks from different backgrounds can be fun and make you feel less alone.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">Places to Move Your Body: Gyms, sports clubs, or even a quick jog in a park (if you can find one) can lift your mood.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;">Big Opportunities: Better jobs and schools can make you feel good about yourself and ease some money worries.</li></ul><h2>How Do We Fix This?</h2>Nobody’s saying city life is easy, but we can make it better. Here’s how you, your community, and the folks in charge can help:<h3>Stuff You Can Do</h3><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Talk It Out: Feeling off? Find a counselor. Cities have places where you can talk privately and sort things out.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Look After Yourself: Eat some good food, go for a walk, or try breathing exercises. It’s small, but it helps.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Make Friends: Check out a local club or event. Meeting people can make you feel less like you’re on an island.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;">Block the Noise: Grab some earplugs or make a cozy spot at home to escape the city chaos.</li></ul><h3>What Communities Can Do</h3><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Get the Word Out: Talking about mental health makes it less scary. Share info so people feel okay asking for help.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Create Safe Spaces: Start a group where folks can share what’s on their mind without judgment.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in;">Push for Parks: Ask for more green spaces to give everyone a place to chill.</li></ul><h3>What Leaders Can Do</h3><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">More Help, Please: Build more clinics and train more counselors to keep up with everyone who needs support.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Make Cities Nicer: Plan for parks, safer streets, and quieter areas to cut down on stress.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Help Everyone: Fix up poorer neighborhoods with better homes and jobs to ease the pressure.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in;">Lean on Vision 2030: Saudi’s big plan is about making life better. Mental health should be a huge part of that.</li></ul><h2>Questions People Ask</h2>Folks have a lot of questions about this stuff. Here’s what I found:<ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Why’s city life so stressful? It’s the noise, crowds, and high costs that can make you feel overwhelmed or cut off.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">Are mental health issues worse in Saudi cities? Yup, places like Riyadh see more anxiety and depression than small towns, according to studies.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">How can cities help? More parks, safer streets, and easier access to counselors would make a big difference.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in;">What problems are common? Anxiety, depression, and stress disorders pop up a lot, especially for women and young people.</li></ul><h2>Let’s Sum It Up</h2>Saudi cities are booming—new jobs, new buildings, new everything. But all that growth can make life feel heavy. The noise, loneliness, and pressure can take a toll on your mental health. The good news? We can do something about it. You can take care of yourself or talk to someone, communities can step up with support, and leaders can make cities easier to live in. With a little effort, we can turn Saudi cities into places where our minds feel as good as our lives look.