NAMI California, a branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offers a quick survey of research to highlight the various ways pets can improve mental health:

• “Studies show that dogs reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve your all-around health.”
• UCLA Health highlighted the people-animal connection, noting that when people interacted with their pets, “petting the animal promoted the release of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin – all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods.”
• Pets provide unconditional love and support to people in painful situations. They can be a powerful tool in therapy sessions.
• Therapy pets have been helpful to veterans suffering from PTSD.

To learn more about the positive effects of pets on mental and physical health, visit the NAMI California blog.

“How pets can help us maintain mental health.” NAMI California, https://namica.org/blog/how-dogs-can-help-us-maintain-mental-health/

Photo by Louis-Philippe Poitras on Unsplash