Although the usefulness of a companion animal has been accepted and well documented by the scientific community, there is less research available on the role of pets in mental illness. One study aims to fill this gap by investigating how dogs affect their owners’ mental well-being.
The researchers, led by Helen Brooks from the University of Manchester (UK) interviewed 54 participants immersed in the Manchester and South Hampton mental health program. All were at least 18 years old and had been diagnosed with serious mental illness. The interviews were conducted face-to-face at the participants’ home or at an agreed community center, and lasted between 20 and 90 minutes.
Participants were asked: “Who or what do you think is most important to you in terms of your mental balance?” The participants had to place in the central circle of a table the social network (family, friends, etc.) that they considered most important and so on up to the largest or outer circle of the graph as the least relevant to their mental health.
60% of the volunteers placed their dog in the inner circle, the one of the most important help to control their disease and deal with their daily life. Another 20% placed their pet in the second circle, and only 3 participants placed their pet in the third circle.
Why are dogs so important?
Some of the participants said that their pets provided them with distraction from the symptoms of the disease and disturbing experiences such as hearing voices, suicidal thoughts …
Owning a pet was also seen as an effective way to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, to be responsible, to be in control of your life, as well as a sense of security and routine in your daily activities . Finally, the feelings of acceptance and unconditional support offered by the pets towards their owners contributed to a more positive general state.
These findings highlight the importance of pets for self-management of mental illness and everyday life.
“Analysis of an individual’s support network suggests a unique contribution from pets that extends beyond the support and connections provided by family connections, friendships, and weak ties,” comments Helen Brooks, leader of the work.
The study has been published in the journal BMC Psychiatry.
