Mental health can be described as a person’s psychological and emotional wellbeing, with this impacting the way they think, act, and feel. For those struggling with this, day-to-day living can be very difficult and sometimes seems impossible. Mental health is something that
impacts everyone. It ranges from low mood, anxiety and major depressive disorders to personality disorders and schizophrenia. It also encompasses dementia, neurodiversity and stress related disorders. Talking openly and seeking help can be really challenging for people with mental health difficulties due to the fear of facing stigmatised discrimination. People struggling with their mental health are far more likely to experience stigma and social exclusion than those who are not. However, in recent years mental health has become less of a taboo subject. People can speak about their personal experiences more openly and more services are available that offer support.
Animal companionship has been proven in multiple psychological studies to have a significantly positive impact on someone’s wellbeing. These interactions can cause biochemical changes. Neurotransmitters are released that improve a person’s mood, cause relaxation and suppress feelings of depression and anxiety. The social interaction is also hugely beneficial. The ‘social buffering hypothesis’ states that social relationships/interaction are protective factors against negative mental health. It is important to note that human-animal relationships are included in this. Social exclusion is a very common cause and symptom of poor mental health, making the work we do at Our Special Friends all the more important. Building relationships with a volunteer and their animal helps to combat that social exclusion.
This is just one of the ways that animals can be a vital source of support in the management of long-term mental health difficulties. They also help people to learn and establish self-care skills. Literature has shown that by looking after another being, people become more aware of their own needs and feel more able to look after themselves. This is particularly true in cases of depression. Symptoms of depression include severe low mood, loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable, sleeping too much/too little, changes in appetite, and suicidal ideation. Having an animal can help to relieve a lot of these symptoms. We’ve spoken already about the biological changes that help to improve mood. One of the main responsibilities of having a dog, for example, is walking them. This includes processes like getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, and leaving the house. All of these things can be near impossible for someone facing depression, but it can be a lot easier to do these things for your dog rather than yourself. Having animal companionship has been proven to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, help to develop empathetic skills, and allows people who feel disconnected from reality to feel grounded again.
In addition to this, animal companionship can help improve the quality of life for people living with dementia. As the condition progresses, people can become very isolated. Dementia restricts a person’s movements and the activities they can take part in, often because it becomes unsafe. Communication with other people becomes difficult and extremely stressful for the person. However, studies have shown that people living with dementia find it much easier to communicate with animals. Interactions with animals help several neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as depression, disinhibition, delusions, and euphoria. The
human-animal bond does not require verbal conversation where a person experiencing dementia may get confused and stressed
because they are unable to remember things or read conversational cues. Again, they can take part in activities like walking and grooming that give them the incentive to get up and about. For those living with dementia this is really important as it helps to increase their fine
motor skills and muscle strength, which ultimately decreases their fall risk.
On the other hand, animal companionship does come with its negatives. With every animal there is the possibility of practical and emotional burden of ownership. This includes any problem behaviours, perceived cost of veterinary appointments, everyday care that is needed, looking after them as they age or get sick, and eventual loss of a pet. Often, problem behaviours are cited as the leading cause for pet relinquishment. Giving up an animal can cause huge feelings of guilt and contribute to negative wellbeing. It is never an easy decision to make and, even if it is what is best for both the person and their animal, people can feel as though they have failed their pet. It can also cause financial strain when a pet becomes ill or as they get older. The owner may not be able to afford the veterinary costs. This causes guilt as well and they may avoid taking their animal to the vets because of this. It is very common for depression and anxiety to manifest during these times. Lastly, the eventual passing of a pet can have significant effects. This can start a long time before an animal passes.
Anticipatory grief occurs when someone expects a death. This usually happens when a pet is naturally nearing the end of its life or when they become ill. The severity and length of the grief a person feels once their pet passes can be overwhelming for a lot of people. If the person has made the decision to have their pet ‘put to sleep’, it’s very likely they will experience feelings of self-hatred and will blame themselves for their death. This is known as responsibility grief and can be felt by vets as well as the owner of the pet. It can also be very difficult to grieve the loss of a pet given that there are very few methods (e.g. a funeral) to help the grief process. This can lead to disenfranchised guilt, where it feels like the grief cannot be openly acknowledged, despite literature showing that the loss of a pet can feel very similar to the loss of a person. Nevertheless, it is often agreed that the benefits of animal companionship outweigh the negatives. While it is important to note that animals cannot ‘fix’ mental health struggles, it has been proven that they can help with the long-term management of any disorders or difficulties. Studies have shown that animal companionship improves a person’s mood, reduces stress and blood pressure, decreases feelings of loneliness or isolation, among many other positive outcomes.
Further literature into its effects on mental health have found pets reduce urges of self-harm and help prevent onsets of panic attacks and suicide attempts. It is clear that animal companionship has a positive effect on mental health struggles and those living with them. For those times of uncertainty, animal companionship support services can be vital.
Written by Chloe Smith, Animal Companionship Coordinator
