How Pets Can Improve Mental Health

Almost everyone knows that pets can be a lot of fun - there’s a reason why dogs are called “man’s best friend,” after all. But the benefits of pet ownership go beyond simple entertainment - especially for those struggling with learning disabilities. Pets provide important boosts to mood and mental health in the face of intense personal challenges.

Academic and cognitive failures can leave both children and adults facing depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Howard Eaton, founder of Eaton Arrowsmith School, recounts his early struggles with Dyslexia:

I was feeling the full emotional impact of my reading failure by grade five. My parents recall a discussion I had with them in our living room. I was quite sincere in explaining to them how I was going to pile bricks on my chest in the bathtub so I could drown. You can see the emotional decline in my face and body posture just by looking at my yearly school pictures. My reading disability was impacting my emotional state and in short, my entire personality. I was suicidal, anxious and depressed at age 10.

Pets have been shown to significantly help combat these feelings of depression in many ways. A recent HABRI-founded study found that service dogs helped veterans lower symptoms of PTSD, reduce depression, alleviate feelings of isolation, increase resilience (the ability to recover from hardships), and improve social participation.

If you struggle with feelings of depression and isolation from your peers, or if you have suicidal thoughts as a result of a learning disability, it’s important to embrace a multi-modal approach to your care. Cognitive exercises will increase your abilities in reading, writing, and math over time - but as you put in the time and work to achieve those changes, a pet can help support you along this very emotional journey.