There’s no limit to the love and companionship pets add to our lives, and this may be particularly true among people with long-term mental health conditions. For many who fall into this category, the ability to stay engaged in their day-to-day life is a key concern.
Other ongoing concerns reported by those experiencing mental health problems include losing previous connections and social status, an inability to continue on with activities once enjoyed and feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Mental illness may chip away at a person’s sense of purpose and life meaning, especially if the person feels they’re being judged or stigmatized. Breakdowns in relationships with family and friends are common, as are challenges in maintaining a daily routine.
A positive support network is invaluable in these situations, with human friends and family often viewed as the most important sources of such support.
New research suggests, however, that animals may fulfill an important support role, with pets bring emotional and mental benefits to their owners. The findings were so convincing that the researchers concluded
“Pets should be considered a main rather than a marginal source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems.”
Researchers from the University of Manchester interviewed 54 people with long-term mental health problems regarding the role of pets in their lives.
They were given a diagram with three concentric circles surrounding a square meant to represent themselves and asked to fill in their sources of support (with the most important sources filling in the closest circle and then radiating outward).
Nearly half of the participants included pets (dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish and more were part of the study) as part of their social network. Among them, 60 percent placed pets in the closest circle while 20 percent put them in the second closest.
The participants noted many benefits of pet ownership, including being a source of physical contact and comfort, as well as providing a way to channel emotional energy.
Many participants reported that their pets intuitively know when they’re feeling unwell and act accordingly. One participant, an owner of two dogs and two cats who placed them in the closest circle, explained:2