An Empirical Case Study on Public Spaces and Youth Health and Mental Well-being in Botswana Cities and Major Urban Villages

Abstract

Public spaces are vital in urban image and a settlement’s sociocultural fabric and identity. Furthermore, public spaces affect the degree to which people and the community socialise, especially young people who face adverse challenges that affect their health and mental well-being. Research has proven that connection with nature and safe play spaces are vital to youth’s healthy lives and cognitive and social development, where peer pressure and developing a sense of belonging are critical issues to youth who have become more susceptible to the effects of social exclusion in a digitising and urbanising world. However, intense urban transformation processes have led to an influx of challenges and sometimes threats to public spaces that require countries and the globe to revert some of the city systems and policies that govern settlements. Nonetheless, there should be an integration and interconnection between youth initiatives and urban systems for convivial public spaces. Through an empirical case study, composed of a mixed data collection approach using literature review, observation, questionnaire, and interview surveys, this research provides a more critical approach to assess public spaces in Botswana and their impact on youth mental health and social well-being who are faced with adverse challenges including social exclusion, unemployment, and drug and alcohol abuse. This paper starts by giving a background overview, then gives an in-depth understanding of public space in Africa, focusing on Botswana and probes to understand youth health and mental well-being in a continually urbanising and globalising world.