The Mental Health Benefits of Emotional Support Animals

This past week Nike, one of the largest shoe and apparel companies in the world, closed its corporate office to allow for their employees to take a mental health break. For a company of this magnitude to shine a light on mental health is a very big deal, especially when you consider the timing of it. Many of their star athletes, some of whom we have covered in previous blog posts, have taken stands and been very public with their mental health battles. Nike appears to be supporting their sponsored athletes and are showing that same support to their corporate employees too. While there has been no news yet of their retail store employees receiving any similar days off, the ball is definitely beginning to move in that direction. 

Last month in Chicago, a new bill was signed that will allow for their students to have 5 mental health days available for use. This will allow for students to take a much needed break from the stress and pressure of trying to navigate through a school life in the midst of a pandemic, without having to obtain a doctor’s note. On the second mental health day that a student uses, the school’s counselor will meet with that student and work to connect them with a therapist. 

Mental health is important to everyone, no matter what title you possess or level of education. We need to highlight the multitude of mental health services that are available to those who are in need, and for today’s blog, we will be doing just that. 

Emotional Support Animals are able to offer benefits to those who are experiencing different mental disorders and levels of stress and anxiety. You can find Emotional Support Animals at jobs, medical facilities, airports, courtrooms, schools, libraries, and so on, because they are extremely effective when it comes to lifting the spirits of the people that interact with them. 

Here are a few ways in which Emotional Support Animals can offer their services:

Social Support

Social Anxiety is far from a foreign concept to numerous people all around the world. Striking up a conversation with someone or feeling comfortable around a group of people can be challenging. An Emotional Support Animal can be an easy conversation starter, which can ease the mood and help you adjust to the situation. They can provide love, support, and can help you feel connected to those around you as well.

Help Regulate Emotions

Keeping your emotions in check, especially when you are dealing with trauma or high levels of stress, can be difficult. Emotional Support Animals can offer companionship in these situations, where a person can escape that space of isolation and get their minds back in a more positive space. Animals are very sensitive to emotions and can be trained to look out for certain ones, so that they can readily assist you in your time of need. 

Help Through Mental Disorders

People who experience mental disorders or traumas experience a sense of peace when they are playing with animals. In some situations, simply having a loved animal near them is able to provide a level of comfort that other forms of therapy cannot. Animals can even be trained to recognize when someone is having an anxiety attack and take basic steps to aid you immediately.