October comes with numerous occasions to raise awareness of mental health struggles. Some of the focuses of this month surrounding mental health include depression, mental health screening, ADHD, and OCD. With October 4th being World Animal Day, we’ve decided to highlight the linkages between mental health and animals, both wild and domestic, all month.
Animals play a big role in many people’s lives, they can be sources of companionship, pleasure, service, and more, but do they actually make a difference in our mental health? According to a substantial amount of research, the answer is yes. An article published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2011 included a study of over 200 community members and concluded that pet owners exhibited higher levels of self-esteem, were more physically fit, felt less lonely, were more socially outgoing, and were more conscientious than people who aren’t around animals often. Pet owners also reportedly received an equivalent amount of support from their pets as they did from family members and friends.
Interacting with animals has the capability to reduce stress and anxiety in humans. Dogs are a great example of this as they respond well to human behavior and emotion. Their ability to understand their owner’s verbal cues, tone, and body language makes them a great source of joy and companionship for humans. A dog that needs to be walked regularly also provides several physical health benefits such as decreased blood pressure, and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Marwan Sabbagh, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health stated, “Simply petting an animal can decrease the level of the stress hormone cortisol and boost [the] release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, resulting in lowered blood pressure and heart rate and, possibly, in [an] elevated mood.” Regular exercise is known to have a positive impact on people who struggle with their mental health by relieving stress, improving memory, helping one sleep better, and overall boosting one’s mood.
Similarly, a wildlife-rich environment poses many benefits to both our physical and mental health. A social return on investment analysis was done in 2019 by Leeds Beckett University on the health and well-being impacts of volunteering with Wildlife Trusts. This analysis found that 60% of people reportedly became more physically active and 83% of people improved their mental well-being. Wildlife Trusts explains that seeing wildlife in areas “that are clean and clear reduces stress, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.” There are many studies done on the subject of a littered environment’s impact on mental health. The conclusions are similar in that there is a correlation between a littered environment and poor mental health. Litter affects wildlife in many ways and is often dangerous and harmful to the health of local animals and ecosystems. Keeping our areas clean and litter-free can help lead to thriving and healthy local wildlife which can elevate our moods.
Although there is much research that needs to be done regarding the impact of wildlife on the mental health of humans, we know from studies on pets and their owners that a positive connection with animals has both physical and mental health benefits for people. Animals are magnificent sources of relief in a myriad of ways, but most notably they serve as great mood and health boosters for loving owners.
If you’re interested in being a part of the final blog in our October series on mental health, email info@onenatureglobal.org with anecdotes about the positive impacts that animals and nature have had on you!