The mental health benefits of having dogs on college campuses

Abstract

College can be a stressful time for many, especially those dealing with problems like stress, anxiety, and depression. While colleges and universities typically offer counseling services, many students who could benefit do not take advantage of them. Research suggests that animals may play an important role in some forms of treatment for conditions such as anxiety, stress, and depression. A recent trend on college campuses is to offer opportunities to interact with dogs and other animals as a way to relieve stress and help individuals deal with other psychological issues. In this paper, we discuss the current research regarding using animals to assist in treatment for problems commonly faced by college students.We also describe our own experiences with a university-sponsored animal-interaction day and offer tips on how others can plan such an event on their campus.