{"id":26281,"date":"2014-07-05T09:45:05","date_gmt":"2014-07-05T17:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=26281"},"modified":"2014-07-08T23:44:26","modified_gmt":"2014-07-09T07:44:26","slug":"can-pets-really-enhance-mental-health-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/can-pets-really-enhance-mental-health-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Pets Really Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

It’s thought that about 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem and, closer to home, one in four British adults<\/a> will experience some sort\u00a0of mental disorder each year – with depression and anxiety the most widespread.<\/p>\n

Along with more traditional treatments such as talking therapies and medication, Caroline Griffith, animal\u00a0well-being expert and Communications Manager at natural and raw pet food manufacturer\u00a0Natures Menu<\/a>, says that\u00a0animals are increasingly being used\u00a0within hospitals and rehabilitation centres to help with mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?<\/h3>\n

The bond between humans and animals is a deep and complex relationship but it is one that has been explored for centuries. Animals have long been trained\u00a0to aid humans in a range of ways, but modern Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT),<\/a> or Pet\u00a0Therapy as it is also known – where pets are brought in by clinicians to be used as part of mental health treatment – is thought to have started in the\u00a01960s.<\/p>\n

American child psychologist Boris Levinson discovered, apparently by accident, that a child he was treating opened up when his dog, Jingles, was present in\u00a0the sessions. This paved the way for more research in this area with studies on how animals can be of benefit to people with a range of mental disorders,\u00a0including Alzheimer\u2019s dementia<\/a>, Post Traumatic Stress
\nDisorder and depression.<\/p>\n

Sasha the dog provokes a response<\/h3>\n

Clinical psychologist Hanne Homer, who spent 17 years working for the National Health Service (NHS), took her dog, Sasha, to visit patients and reports\u00a0generally seeing an \u201calertness\u201d which was otherwise missing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not a prescribed treatment but we were interested to see what would happen,\u201d she said. Dr Homer, who worked in both mental health and\u00a0neuropsychology, took Sasha into several different treatment centres.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kind of people Sasha saw had suffered stroke, traumatic brain injury; people with dysphasia – language problems \u2013 plus people with physical\u00a0disabilities and people with depression,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat came across as a general theme is that with all these people who were withdrawn and not terribly motivated, there was some kind of alertness when\u00a0they saw Sasha.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Homer, who now runs her own business, The Walnut Tree Centre<\/a>, in north Norfolk, which combines\u00a0psychological therapy and yoga practice for the treatment of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma and substance dependencies, said a couple of\u00a0incidents in particular stuck in her mind.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a gentleman who had a language impairment. I had seen him for a couple of psychotherapy sessions before I brought Sasha in and for the first\u00a0time he actually managed to express a word, \u2018Alsatian\u2019. I later understood, from his partner, that he had an Alsatian at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other was a patient with severe depression, he was in a wheelchair and never really initiated any movements. When I came in with Sasha he very slowly,\u00a0very laboriously, reached his hand out to stroke her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why do humans respond to animals?<\/h3>\n

Sasha is a nine-year-old an Australian Cattle Dog who, while frightened of wheelchairs at first, soon settled into her role. \u201cIt was like she knew she had\u00a0to be quiet and to sit and be stroked,\u201d said Dr Homer, who hopes to use Sasha in her current venture where indicated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mystery is what is it in animals that bring this out in people? I think it is something that needs more research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Daniel Allen, founder of Pet Nation<\/a> and columnist for Mental Health Today magazine, adds:<\/p>\n

\u201cSince childhood, everybody has had their own personal experiences with animals. Encounters can trigger individual memories, and stimulate those who may be\u00a0shy or have issues with socialising or communicating. Animals are well-known social lubricants. Interaction can increase confidence and help individuals\u00a0feel more widely accepted within their community and society.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe therapeutic benefit of an individual animal is linked to a person\u2019s mental health and human development needs, rather than particular dog breeds or\u00a0species per se.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alternative animal assistance<\/h3>\n

Many different types of animals, including horses and cats, have also been used as part of AAT studies. The Mental Health Foundation carried out a survey<\/a> with Cats Protection involving more than 600 people, half of whom\u00a0described themselves as having a mental health problem.<\/p>\n

The results show that 87{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive impact on their wellbeing, while 76{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} said they could cope with everyday life\u00a0much better thanks to the company of their feline friends.<\/p>\n

Half of the cat owners felt that their cat\u2019s presence and companionship was most helpful, followed by a third of respondents describing stroking a cat as a\u00a0calming and helpful activity.<\/p>\n

Commenting at the time, Eva Cyhlarova, head of research for the charity, said: \u201cPrevious research has supported the contribution of pets to our mental\u00a0health and our findings support the view that caring for a cat can improve your wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there is evidence that pets can play a part in mental wellbeing, more dedicated studies are needed if AAT is to become a more regular part of\u00a0mainstream treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s thought that about 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem and, closer to home, one in four British adults will experience some sort of mental disorder each year – with depression and anxiety the most widespread. 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