The company of an animal, whether as a pet or service animal, can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and the ability to recover from an illness. Of the 84.6 million households in the United States that own a pet:
- 66% believe their pets relieve depression and anxiety
- 50% believe their pets relieve stress
Science has shown that pet ownership can help:
- Improve cardiovascular health and physical activity
- Decrease blood pressure and stress
- Reduce loneliness, which decreases the risk of developing many chronic health conditions
Animal companionship helps people with physical and mental health conditions in many ways:
- Interacting with pets or therapy animals can play a role in reducing anxiety and depression during treatment for people with cancer.
- Contact with an animal can help people who are critically ill by reducing heart rate and blood pressure, improving mood and reducing stress.
- For people receiving treatment for mental illness, interacting with an animal reduces anger, depression and anxiety, and improves their ability to socialize.
To learn about behavioral health programs offered by
Floyd Behavioral Health, call 706.509.3500 or our 24-hour help line at 1.800.365.3548.