Article by PsychCentral: http://psychcentral.com/news/2016/12/11/pets-help-owners-with-mental-health-problems/113682.html
Pets can help people manage their long-term mental health conditions, according to new research from the U.K.
The consistent presence and close physical proximity of their pets provided an immediate source of calm and therapeutic benefit for the pets’ owners, according to the study. The researchers suggest that pets should be considered a main source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems.
“The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles, such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgment,” said Dr. Helen Brooks from the University of Manchester.