The Pet Effect on Mental and Physical Health
24th July 2020
Today is Samaritans Awareness Day, and this great organisation has shown itself as a major leader in moving the nation’s mental health to the forefront of our collective thinking. Here at greensplash, the mental wellness of the team has long been a major consideration. With all members of our group working remotely, we have maintained regular contact via video links and phone calls from not just the human team members, but also those of the canine and feline variety. We want to take this opportunity to look at the benefits pets can bring to our mental and physical wellbeing. As a team of animal lovers, we know only too well just how important the scruffling of fluffy ears and scratching under the chin can be to a person’s happiness.
Lockdown has meant that the opportunity to receive a
fabulously fluffy head boink from Sidney and Boo has lately been
non-existent, and it’s not just the team that is missing this splendid form of
sensory overload. Our clients and suppliers are missing our canine
representatives too. So, how can this sorry ‘tail’ be rectified? By
socially distanced Sidney visits of course! Hooray!
This week has been a busy one for Siddles; on Tuesday
he put on his best LinkedIn outfit and popped over to see Sarah (or Sawah as
Sidney calls her). There was squealing, running around the garden,
leaping over benches, and lots of kisses (and that was just Sarah). Then
on Wednesday, he went to visit his favourite lady, Elaine, who works as part of
our accounts team. Again, there was more squealing, cuddles, kisses, and
sausages! We had no idea Elaine was so partial to a Webbs Butchers
Sausage.
On a more serious note, whilst there is a fun element
to owning and loving these hairy companions, there are also significant health
benefits. It has been scientifically proven that owning a pet reduces
blood pressure, and at times of stress petting an animal has a calming
influence. What effect all that tapping on the head has on Sidney and Boo’s
mental abilities is a mystery to us all. According to a report from the Harvard
Medical School, this is known as the ‘pet effect’. Dog owners are also
linked to having lower cholesterol and triglyceride (a type of fat found in the
blood). It is believed that this is due to the regular exercise that
dog-owners receive from walking their canine friends.
Not only this, but did you also know that pets can
help their humans overcome anxiety? When you hit that mental block and anxiety
kicks in, rest assured a quick scratch of fuzzy heads will help you de-stress
and refocus. It’s not just dogs that can help, cats can also be a great benefit
to people who are feeling anxious. 76% of cat owners feel that they can
cope better with everyday life since giving their beloved kitty a home.
greensplash has its own cat collector, and she agrees!
When the team is in the office, having a lively
Sidney and Boo close by is a positive way to encourage everyone to pop out for
a break and be walked by them, I mean take them for a walk, and therefore
improving the individual and collective cardiovascular health of the
greensplash team. Don’t forget, after all, we specialise in medical
communications as well as web design.
All in all, pets are a genuinely wonderful addition
to our lives, whether at work or at home. But remember, they are a huge
responsibility, relying on you for their entire life. You have a pet for a part
of your life, but they have you for the whole of theirs. How lucky are they!
Make it memorable.
If you are struggling with your mental wellbeing, please know that it is OK not to be OK. Twenty Five percent of the population struggles at some point so please know you are not alone. Speaking to someone can be a great help too. The Samaritans has several ways to contact them so if a telephone call feels too much, you can email them, or use their self-help app. You can find out more here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
