Emotional Support Animals
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” This quote by Anatole France illustrates the deep bond that humans have historically felt with animal companions. According to the American Pet Products Association and Pew Research Center, approximately sixty-six to seventy percent of American households have at least one pet, and thirty-five percent own more than one pet. Therefore, it is no surprise that animals have been utilized to assist humans in various aspects of life – whether that be farming, pest control, search and rescue, guide and hearing tasks, and even emotional support.
Emotional Support Animals VS Service Animals
While service animals and emotional support animals are terms sometimes used interchangeably, they are incredibly different. Service animals undergo rigorous training in order to perform specialized tasks for individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects disabled individuals and their right to bring their service animal into any location where the general public is allowed. Service animals must be dogs that are trained to perform a specific task such as guiding a visually impaired individual, pulling a wheelchair, or alerting someone to a medical need such as a seizure or medication reminder. Other assistance animals include therapy animals, crisis response animals, and psychiatric service animals. Emotional support animals, on the other hand, can be any animal species and do not require specialized training. The role of emotional support animals is to provide comfort through companionship. While emotional support animals are not allowed in certain public spaces, the Fair Housing Act permits individuals to seek an Emotional Support Animal Letter from a mental health professional in order to live in an apartment with their pet.
Emotion Support Animal Benefits
According to the National Institutes of Health, emotional support animals and pets in general provide a plethora of mental health benefits. Not only does having a pet lower anxiety, cortisol, and stress levels, but a pet can distract an individual from symptoms impacting their mental health. Pets tend to display an intuitive response to their owner’s emotions and needs in addition to illustrating unconditional positive regard and non-judgemental acceptance. Having the responsibility of taking care of a pet can help mitigate symptoms of depression, increase social engagement opportunities, and cultivate a sense of meaning and purpose. The mere presence of an animal can provide structure, reduce loneliness, and boost behavioral activation.
Emotional support animals can improve daily functioning in a myriad of settings like home, school, and work. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health condition and wondering how taking care of a pet could be a meaningful part of treatment, consider reaching out to Embrace Therapy or another mental health professional for resources and support.
