Mexico Hospital Uses ‘Furry Therapists’ To Address Mental Health Illness

A hospital in Mexico has used a special buddy to help patients who are suffering from mental health illnesses. They are called the furry therapists.

The National Center for Mental Health and Palliative Care in Mexico City incorporates animals, ranging from Australian parakeets to a Siberian Husky, to provide mental health therapy.

During a therapy session, Alessia Ramos who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) gently pets Waffle, a veterinarian-trained Angora hamster, to help her treat attention deficit disorder.

"It helps me get rid of anxiety, control my emotions, relax, and be more focused," she added.

According to Agence France-Presse, the facility is Mexico's first and only public hospital that uses animals to treat mental illness.

"Contact with animals causes strong neuropsychological changes that reduce stress and anxiety, as well as beneficially affect other cognitive processes," said Dr. Lucia Ledesma, the head of mental health services at the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers.

Harley, the star dog

One of the furry therapists in the hospital is Harley, a five-year-old pug.

Harley lost his eyes in an accident, fortunately, he made a quick recovery.

"We follow that example of resilience in the face of adversity. He's a dog that does everything, without impediments," Dr. Ledesma said.

During the height of COVID-19, Harley became famous in Mexico when he entered the ward wearing a protective suit, boots, and glasses to raise the morale of medical professionals. This courageous act of a dog was also acknowledged on a global scale.

Silvia Hernandez, a nurse who suffered from mental health issues while working during the pandemic, recalled how Harley's presence brought comfort to the medical personnel working tirelessly to fight the virus.

"We could see colleagues becoming emotional and feeling that love, that gesture of Harley to release their tension. Some of them cried," she added as reported by Code List.

Pets healing influence for abuse survivors

Animals, especially dogs, have been used to treat patients in several countries since the 1970s.

However, experts seek to explore the healing influence of pets on abuse survivors.

The Dogs Today Magazine reported that the Human Animal Bond Research Institute under Thompson Rivers University has secured funding to study "the role of companion animals within incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV), including how pets can contribute to the wellbeing of IPV survivors".

According to data, the majority of intimate partner violence survivors report abuse or threats against their pet, but only a small number of domestic violence shelters accept pets on their premises.

The fear for the welfare of their pet after being left behind is one of the factors that causes victims of violence to stay with their abusive partner, putting them in even more risk.

"Our goal is to use these findings to encourage more domestic violence shelters and services to embrace pet-friendly measures that will allow survivors of IPV and their pets to heal together," said Dr. Rochelle Stevenson, lead investigator for the study.

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