Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Urbanization has initiated rapid social change, disintegration and dissolution of social relations and decreased social control, which would result in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, a variety of addictions including internet addiction, and suicide-related behaviors. Urban life fundamentally has a risk of social isolation, and COVID-19 has escalated the crisis of social isolation due to STAY HOME policies. In this symposium, thee speakers in urban cities in Japan, China and Brazil will introduce the impact of COVID-19 on mental health issues in each site. Dr Kato will introduce the maladaptive circle between urban life, social isolation and more serious mental health issues such as hikikomori, a form of pathological social withdrawal, and suicide in urban cities in Japan.