Mean Streets and Mental Health: Depression and Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder at Crime Hot Spots

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between mental health and place at microgeographic units of analysis. We examine self-reported symptomology for depression and PTSD for 2,724 survey respondents interviewed in three types of randomly selected street segments: violent crime hot spots, cool spots, and cold spots. We find that the mean symptomology score is 61% higher for depression in violent crime hot spots than cold spots, and 85% higher for PTSD. Overall, we estimate that 14.8% of residents of violent crime hot spots meet thresholds for moderate depression or a diagnosis of PTSD. This can be compared to only 6.5% of residents at the cold spots. Using PSM and weighted negative binomial regression approaches we show that observable selection factors are not responsible for the relationships identified. Examining geographic influences, we find an important area effect of violent crime for both mental health measures, and an additional impact of the specific street of residence for PTSD.

Understanding the role of service providers, land use, and resident characteristics on the occurrence of mental health crisis calls to the police

“…The extent to which the relationship between crime and mental health problems exists at microgeographic places is less developed. Recently, Weisburd et al () examined mental health at a microgeographic level using residential surveys collected on 449 street segments in Baltimore. They found that residents of violent crime hot spots had an increased likelihood of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms compared to residents living on nonhot spot streets (see also Weisburd and White, ).…”

“…Data used in the current study come from a larger project on crime hot spots in Baltimore, funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse (Weisburd, Lawton, Ready, & Haviland, ). The project collected data from a number of different sources including police calls for service data, residential survey data, physical observation data, and land use data from the city of Baltimore.…”

Perspectives of people with mental health problems at hot spots: Attitudes and perceptions of safety, crime, and the police

“…This paucity of research is unfortunate, since people with mental health problems may not only perceive crime, safety, and the police differently (cf. Newman, ; Yanos, Felton, Tsemberis, & Frye, ), but they are also more likely to live in, and be affected adversely by, the particular environments where these issues are more prevalent (Latkin & Curry, ; Ross, ; Weisburd et al, ; Weisburd & White, ).…”

“…see Weisburd, ; Weisburd, Hinkle, Famega, & Ready, ) and also with specific types of crime such as drug markets (Weisburd & Green, ; Weisburd & Mazerolle, ), juvenile crime (Weisburd, Morris, & Groff, ), gun violence (Braga, Papachristos, & Hureau, ), and mental health related calls (White & Goldberg, ). Furthermore, a recent study found that individuals who live in violent crime hot spots are more likely to have depression and/or PTSD (Weisburd et al, ; see also Weisburd & White, ). Because residents who live in crime hot spots are more likely to have mental health problems and come into contact with the police, it is important to examine their perceptions specifically.…”

“…What we do know about perceptions of crime, safety, and the police has focused on large geographical units, which are much larger than the streets people live on. An ongoing research program ongoing at George Mason University, on which we rely here, provides the first data we know of on mental health outcomes at this geographic level (Weisburd et al, ; Weisburd & White, ).…”