Population-based research is necessary, as empirical findings
linking the urban environment and mental health have primarily derived from developed countries, and
may not be generalizable to developing countries. Thus, the current study assesses the prevalence of
mental health problems (i.e., depression, perceived powerlessness), as well as their community-based
predictors (i.e., crime, disorder, poverty, poor sanitation, local social capital and cohesion), among a
sample of 690 residents in three poor urban communities in Accra, Ghana.