Manchester (Reuters): A recent study claimed that pets could play an important role in the treatment of their owners’ chronic mental health conditions.
According to researchers, many pets were seen as the most valuable and central social support in owners’ lives, often providing secure relationships not available through human ties.
Lead study author Helen Brooks of the University of Manchester said, “Although the value of therapy animals for mental health problems is well documented, the nature of the role pets play in the everyday management of serious mental illness is underexplored.”
Researchers also stated that the pets are very significant to those managing serious mental illness and should be considered a mainstay rather than a marginal source of support.
Pets helped build stable and close relationships that weren’t available elsewhere, especially for those who stay mostly at home and have limited human contact. Pets also provide a consistent physical presence and often distract owners from symptoms or upsetting experiences such as suicidal thoughts.
Researchers interviewed 54 people diagnosed with long-term mental health problems, focusing on the day-to-day experience of living with a mental illness. They asked questions about the relationship, value and meaning of pets in the owners’ lives.
“I can trust him (my dog) more than people,” one participant said. “When you’re like this, you lose a lot of trust in people, family as well, because you tend not to tell them things because the less you tell them, the less they can say.”
Another participant said, “(The cat) knows when to come on my lap and when to leave me alone. I don’t have to tell him, he just senses me, you know, he just senses my feelings.”
The study participants received a diagram with three concentric circles around a square representing the pet owner. They were asked to write in the names of people, places and things that gave them support. Of the 54 participants, 25 considered their pets to be part of their social network. About 60 percent placed pets in the closest circle to them, and 20 percent placed them in the second circle.
A member of UK’s nonprofit organization that connects people with companion animals said, “This is probably only the second time I’ve seen a study so thoroughly look at where pets sit in the human-social system and how important pets may be.”
Several U.S. programs connect pets in need with humans in need. Senior Pets for Senior People and Senior Dogs 4 Seniors, for example, pair older animals with retirees who are housebound and want companionship at home. The UK will be mirroring these programs in 2017.
The study also suggested that many times, establishing a reliable non-human relationship and boosting self-esteem cuts down on repeat offenses.
The researchers noted, “Sometimes we overlook the emotional needs that people have. For some social and health problems, the solution may be staring you in the face - or sitting on your lap.”