Uticopa Blog

There is new pressure for psychiatric 'assistance dogs' to have the same rights and status as those used by blind or deaf people

A dog is man's best friend. It's a heartening sight, throughout the world, to see blind and deaf people with specially-trained dogs at their side. More recently, it's now recognised that dogs have an important role to play in care homes and hospital wards, where patients are encouraged to stroke the dogs in an attempt to bring down patient heart-rate and high blood pressure.
 
But, until now, mental health sufferers were forgotten.

No longer!

Looking at the picture of mental health campaigner Marion Janner above, with her support dog Buddy, it's easy to understand the difference a dog can make. Janner clearly dotes on Buddy, whom she cheerfully acknowledges stopped her from serious self-harm.

Janner's experience is an important step in realising just how much dogs can improve mental wellbeing, and it is backed up by research. Studies have shown that time with dogs helps to create feelings of security. Some people with agoraphobia report that they are no longer housebound because of such contact, and post-traumatic stress disorder can also be alleviated.
 
Dogs foster social contact and help to overcome loneliness, encourage interaction with nature (itself shown to be therapeutic), and promote getting out in the fresh air and taking exercise. But, more than anything else, the unconditional love and empathy that a dog can provide is profoundly healing.

The big question is: should ‘psych dogs' (as the Americans call them) have the same rights and recognition as guide dogs for blind people and hearing dogs for deaf people?

Buddy has a bright yellow jacket with the words "Support Dog" printed across it. When Buddy wears the jacket, she is accepted in the same way that any other service dog would be. Janner can take her into shops, cafes and offices. However, it is Janner's confident attitude that makes it possible; if challenged, she simply points to the jacket and goes ahead. This is necessary because mental health assistance dogs have no formal rights in the UK and, theoretically, Buddy could be refused entry with Janner to a restaurant or prevented from accompanying her to work.

In the US, the Psychiatric Service Dog Society (PSDS) supports people with mental health problems to benefit from dog ownership, and has successfully tackled the ‘no pets' policy of some housing associations and employers.

However, the PSDS rules that it must be demonstrated that a ‘service dog' can perform two essential tasks for the owner (who must be registered disabled) - such as recognising panic attacks, fetching drinks if necessary, or waking an owner who sleeps through his or her alarm.
Janner is concerned at suggestions that a similar scheme could be introduced in the UK. She isn't confident that Buddy, however lovable, could pass American-style ‘psych dog' tests. "Can you see her fetching me a drink?" she asks, pointing to Buddy dozing in her basket. "In the end, what Buddy provides is companionship and she keeps me safe. That's what I need her for."

There is no equivalent of the PSDS as yet in the UK. The Wilby Campaign report, compiled last year by a group of mental health service users who are also dog lovers, aims to promote the value of psychiatric assistance dogs. The group intends to present this document to Assistance Dogs (UK), the umbrella organisation for canine helpers, as the first step to securing some form of recognition.

Everyone agrees that support dogs for mental health sufferers is a good idea. But, should we only campaign for stringent US-style dog tests - thereby possibly making it too difficult for those in need to obtain help?  Or, as Janner suggests, should we campaign for dogs at a lower level of support - for the essential companionship that all mental health sufferers so desperately need?
Let us know what you think.

The Wilby Campaign report is at www.tinyurl.com/cxovrn