Brooke Shields, who is adored by the public, confessed her love for her dog Pepper. “This little old lady is pure love. She brings me so much happiness,” she wrote. The actress timed her post to coincide with the end of October, the month of mental health in the world. In addition, it is a great reason to talk about people’s mental problems, about the impact of animals on our health, and about human ingratitude towards them.
Deadly Stress
Every 40 seconds one suicide is committed in the world. And this is not the black marketing fiction of psychoanalysts, but official UN data. Just think, by the time you finish reading this blog, four people on the planet will have voluntarily given up their lives! Four unique universes will leave us forever!
One should not think that a person is mentally healthy unless he or she has a mental disorder like manic depression. Like Kanye West, for example. Not at all. If people experience long-term stress, it will sooner or later lead to bad social or even clinical consequences. A loud verbal quarrel with your neighbours in such a situation would still be a good ending.
There are many reasons for stress. Personal problems, failures at work, the economic situation in the country, crises and wars in the world. Anyway, according to the World Health Organization, about 15% of the working-age population has obvious mental problems. As a result, due to depressive and anxiety disorders, the world economy loses about $1 trillion annually.
The global Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 is now in force. Of course, all WHO member states have made a commitment to implement this document. But I am skeptical of such declarations. Paper will absorb everything. And my fears, alas, are confirmed. Thus, the WHO’s Mental Health Atlas 2020 states in a politically correct manner that “progress toward the goals of the agreed-upon action plan remains insufficient.”
At the same time, in some countries there are only 2 mental health professionals per 100,000 people! In fact, there is no one to provide assistance. If it weren’t for cute animals, people would have been left with their troubles all by themselves.
Calming pets
A number of scientific studies show that human companionship with animals can reduce the body’s levels of cortisol, a stress-inducing hormone. Indeed, many doctors recommend that patients in stressful situations get a pet.
Last year, scientists from York University in the United Kingdom conducted a large-scale survey. Almost 90% of respondents confirmed that pets helped them normalize their psycho-emotional state during the long coronavirus isolation. Indeed, who wouldn’t be soothed by the purr of a cat or the loyal, affectionate gaze of a dog?
A number of pediatricians emphasize that companionship with pets is great for young children. Babies experience significantly less stress and social problems if they live in families that keep pets. It is believed that interaction between children and animals virtually eliminates the likelihood of developing mental disorders in adulthood.
Not so long ago, an entire industry arose — pet therapy, i.e. treatment and prevention of disease using animals. In this case, there is no need to look for a specially trained pet. We are not talking about guide dogs here. The sympathy between a person and a pet is enough. The result is that about 50 studies have shown the positive emotional impact of animals on patients with addictions, post-traumatic syndrome, autism, schizophrenia and depression.
The Big Betrayal
Now let’s talk about our gratitude. Mankind has been able to domesticate some animals. Some were bred exclusively to give us food. Others were more fortunate — they became helpers and friends. They have been with us since time immemorial, and it is very difficult for them to exist without people. It primarily concerns dogs and cats.
According to the World Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there are about 500 million dogs in the world, of which 75% are stray dogs. And no one has counted the number of stray cats on the planet yet. The statistics are only known for individual countries. There are 120 million of them in the United States alone. The enormous number of perpetually hungry, sick and freezing human friends is solely the fault of humans.
Well, civilized countries mostly practice humane treatment of animals. They build good kennels. There are volunteers and animal advocates everywhere. Animals have some kind of rights. But does it solve the problem on a global level? Not at all. Many states still have organized shooting or poisoning of stray animals. And somewhere even bullets and poison are spared, so they are beaten to death with sticks.
Dr. Henry Feldman of the Department of Hospital Medicine at Harvard Medical School once noted, “Animals are open-minded about people. They just love, help us love them back and feel more confident.”
Well said. So let us stop betraying our loyal friends, of whom there are only a few humans. All the more so, animals are often our only salvation!
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