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A new scientific study published in the BioMedCentral Psychiatry journal confirms what many people already knew intuitively: people with mental illness benefit from pet ownership. This short animated video explains the findings.
The helpful nature of pets includes providing routine, exercise, and acceptance. Those surveyed rated their pets in a primary role of social importance and support. Dogs, cats, birds, and hamsters were all valuable as animal companions.
The journal article is open access. Read more: “Ontological security and connectivity provided by pets: a study in the self-management of the everyday lives of people diagnosed with a long-term mental health condition,” Brooks et al., BMC Psychiatry,2016.
