LAUSR

DOI:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000414 far back as recorded history. Humans live alone or in groups, depending on preference and need, but as social creatures we are generally inclined to seek out mates, to form social connections, developing communities, and ultimately creating societies that exist, be they urban or rural. However, in recent times it appears that the worldwide trend is towards increasing urbanization with the creation of cities and now megacities, that is, those with populations of over 10 million. By 2030, it is projected that there will be 41 such mega-cities across the world (http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/ population/world-urbanization-prospects-2014. html accessed on 18th February 2018). Hence notwithstanding cultural or ideological differences that exist between and within continents – there is a universal phenomenon that provides a commonality. Whether urbanization constitutes actual progress or simply progression is worthy of debate. In so doing, one needs to consider what is gained, but also what is lost. There are push and pull factors each requiring elucidation in addressing the merits of this phenomenon. The current issue of the publication has brought together a series of articles that highlights mental health issues related to urbanization in Brazil, Russia and India together with a general perspective that serves as context. This editorial will add further information from China and South Africa, that is, ‘BRICS.’ In 2003, Goldman Sachs coined the acronym BRIC having understood that by 2050, the economies of these four countries combined would be a dominant force. South Africa was included in 2011, leading to ‘BRICS’. (https://www.investopedia. com/terms/b/brics.asp?partner=asksa accessed on 18th February 2018). In essence, the association of the countries was not seen as political but understood to have potential as an economic bloc. And yet there is a political dimension that underpins the association noting not only the anti-apartheid stance of the BRIC countries but also the active involvement with support during the anti-apartheid struggle from the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the related Eastern Bloc countries of that time. In common, post-apartheid, is that each of the countries is