A CDC study conducted in June of 2020 revealed that of more than 5,400 respondents, nearly one-third had symptoms of anxiety or depression. What’s more, 25% of young adults ages 18-24 in the study said that they had considered suicide due to the pandemic. There’s no doubt that we’ll need help bouncing back from the mental effects of COVID-19. We asked dog lovers to share their thoughts for how therapy dogs can help with the much-needed healing process.
Daniel Caughill is a professional journalist, marketer, and one of the co-founders of The Dog Tale.
- They give us a sense of purpose
- Dogs could improve our mental health
- They provide comfort
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
- Provide entertainment
- Provide companionship
They give us a sense of purpose
First, they give us a sense of purpose. Dogs need their owners to feed and care for them every day, and this sense of purpose can help get us out of bed and going in the morning. This can reduce loneliness and depression, as well as teach children a sense of responsibility.
Second, dogs require physical action. In fact, pet ownership is linked with having a lower body mass index (BMI), so they’re great for our minds and our bodies. It’s well understood that physical exercise can boost mental health, so taking your dog for regular walks can help get us out in nature and boost the release of oxytocin and dopamine that follows exercise or play. This can combat anxiety and stress.
Holden Harris, Founder and editor at PeachTown.org.
Dogs could improve our mental health
Therapy dogs could play a role in public schools, helping students recover from any trauma they experienced during the pandemic. Allowing students to interact with therapy dogs could improve their mental health and help them move forward in life.
Aiden Taylor is a self-confessed ‘dog-lover’ and the driving force behind FurDooz, where he shares his passion and tips for grooming dogs and other pets.
They provide comfort
Emotional support dogs and therapy dogs can play a numbers game in relieving the post-COVID mental health burden that societies will have to cope with. Millions of people already suffer from psychological and psychiatric disorders induced by the COVID pandemic. By the time the pandemic ends, the rates of PTSD, severe depression, anxiety, and other disorders will soar. Since therapy dogs are specially trained to “work” in mental health institutions, nursing homes, and hospitals, they will be able to help in more severe situations. Unlike them, emotional support dogs don’t require any special training. They can live in people’s homes and will be priceless in helping people cope with milder symptoms.
For example, prolonged social isolation combined with increased stress and uncertainty is already leading to an outbreak of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and alienation. That’s where emotional support dogs, with their calm, comforting, and sociable nature, can do a wonderful job. For people suffering from PTSD (healthcare workers, COVID survivors, or family members of people who succumbed to COVID), therapy dogs can detect and manage panic attacks, prevent substance abuse, and provide comfort around the clock.
Daniel Carter is the founder of Zippy Electrics. He provides in-depth guides and reviews on a variety of electronic riding gadgets on his blog.
Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
The locals of care homes, hospices, and health centers, who are members of the vulnerable population that can’t leave their facility, are some of the most emotionally affected by the pandemic. The lockdown caused by the pandemic has isolated these people, triggering the feeling of abandonment within them as visitations are being discouraged. This triggers depression.
However, therapy dogs can help them through visitations. Therapy dogs that are abiding by the CDC guidelines and are certified by specific organizations are allowed to do this without exposing individuals to risks. This is a great remedy while the pandemic is still on the prowl.
Nonetheless, after the pandemic, these dogs can also help in treating the depression of those who feel neglected during these trying times.
Tal Shelef, Realtor and Co-Founder of CondoWizard.
Provide entertainment
When the coronavirus has subsided, we can rely on therapy dogs to help us ease the anxiety and worries that the pandemic will inevitably leave us with. Not only will they provide people with emotional support, but they will also provide much-needed entertainment after a long time of unease.
Provide companionship
Dogs (and pets in general) will help provide companionship during lockdowns and isolation. After COVID starts to play down, the general public will continue to isolate and limit exposure to other people. This will limit the interaction between people, which can slowly lead to malaise and depression. The benefits of having a dog (or even hedgehog, bearded dragon, cat, etc.), is they will provide the missing companionship that will occur due to social distancing and isolation.
