Mental Health Awareness Month & The Positive Impact Pets Have On Our Mental Health

 

Mental health awareness month is typically celebrated in May and is an excellent time to focus on the importance of pets in our lives, and the huge impact pets have on our mental health. Pets can provide important emotional support in times of distress, and can play an important role in helping to improve mental health.

 

What is Mental Health?

 

Mental health is a state of mind, emotions, and behaviors that can be healthy or unhealthy. It can be difficult to identify when someone is having a mental health issue because there are many symptoms that can be confused with other problems. Some common signs of mental health issues include: feeling sad or moody most of the time; having trouble concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions; withdrawing from friends and family; experiencing thoughts about suicide or dying.  Mental health awareness month is designed to raise awareness and help us all be more mindful or our own and other people’s mental health.

 

 

• Mental health is the state of being mentally well.
• Mental health can be affected by both positive and negative experiences.
• Mental health can be improved through self-care and support from others.
• Mental health is not a determinant of ability to function in life.
• Mental health should not be seen as a weakness, but rather a strength to be cultivated.

 

What Impact Do Pets Have On Our Mental Health?

Pets have been shown to have a hugely positive impact on mental health. Pets can help decrease stress levels, provide physical and emotional companionship, and promote socialization. Several mental health conditions can be helped by pets as they provide their owners with an activity and outlet. Pets can also provide support during times of bereavement or loss.

Some people think that pets can help improve someone’s mood and overall mental health.  Spending quality time with your cat or dog can lift your mood and therefore make you feel happier. Pets can provide companionship, love, and support as well as an outlet for stress and frustration.  Studies have shown that owning a pet can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and increase feelings of happiness, what’s not to love!  Mental health awareness month is a great opportunity to celebrate our pets and their positive impact on our mental health.

 

 

5 Mental Health Benefits We Get From Our Pets

 

Pets provide many mental health benefits for their human companions, including reducing stress, providing distraction and having a positive impact on mood. Pets can also help to reduce anxiety and depression in their owners. Here are five of the most common mental health benefits associated with pets:

 

1. Pets can provide companionship and emotional support.

Our pets are always there for us, to give us a hug, listen to us when we have had a good day or even a bad day.  We cuddle up on the sofa and watch TV with our pets and they can also help reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation.

2. Pets can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Pets are known to provide psychological benefits such as reducing stress, providing companionship, and improving moods. Some studies have also found that pet ownership can lower blood pressure levels and increase life satisfaction. Pets can also help to reduce anxiety by providing physical contact, providing a sense of security, and distracting their owners from negative thoughts.

3. Pets can help reduce loneliness and depression.

 

Pets provide companionship and can help reduce feelings of isolation. Pets can also provide physical activity and stimulation, which can help improve moods. In addition, pets can provide a sense of security and comfort, which may help reduce symptoms of depression.

 

4. Pets can help improve moods and stimulate creativity and imagination.

For example, when a pet is happy, its owner may also be happy. Pets can also help people to learn how to care for them properly and how to handle their emotions. Pets have been shown to have positive effects on mental health in different ways. For example, owning a dog has been shown to improve mental health in people with anxiety disorders by providing relief from symptoms such as increased activity levels and reduced anxiety.

 

 

Owning a cat has been linked with reduced rates of depression in women. Cats are known for being good at relieving stress, which may contribute to their overall positive effect on mental health.

 

5. Pets can provide physical exercise, which is good for overall health.

Dogs in particular are brilliant at providing their owner with physical exercise as they need walking every day.  Walking has many health benefits such as keeping your weight under control, it’s good for your muscles and joints as well as improving your heart and lung function and fitness.  Regular exercise has also been proven to lift your mood and is therefore good at reducing feelings of sadness and depression.

 

Why not check out our other blog “Why owning a pet is great for your mental health”.  What are you doing to celebrate mental health awareness month and how are you incorporating your pets in those celebrations?

 

You can find out more about mental health awareness month on the Mental Health UK website.