Paw-sitive Impact: Emotional Support Animals and Mental Health
Lynn University Embraces Emotional Support Animals to Improve Mental Health on Campus
By Eliana Nunez, Staff Writer
Emotional support animals can help improve your mental health, and at Lynn University, they can positively impact students’ lives.
Emotional support animals are any animal that provides relief from loneliness, depression and anxiety. However, there are many misconceptions about what these animals provide their owners with, with accusations of the support animals only being used as a means of always having them around.
“Think of it as having a best friend,” said Nathalie Rodriguez, a senior. “He puts a smile on my face just as much as he puts a smile on others.”
When animals are welcomed into a new environment, it takes them a while to adjust. It is the same with students when starting college, but with the help of an emotional support animal, they can help one another.
Lynn aims to allow students and staff to benefit from having an emotional support animal, by enjoying and participating in campus life with their companions. Students are also offered many other resources to help maintain their mental health, including counseling and Title IX support services.
“Animals are really good at sensing emotion, so I often feel like Poppy does really well at comforting me,” said Alyssa Rose Beltrame, a junior.
Many students are gaining the confidence to go to classes and leave their dorms because of emotional support animals. Studies have shown that emotional support animals give people an increase in social confidence, motivation, self-esteem and comfort.
“If you’re against emotional support animals, then you are against mental health,” said Rodriguez. “If someone is using a non-harmful form of relief from these mental disabilities then why be against it?”
As the acceptance of emotional support animals continues to grow, Lynn University is creating an inclusive community by allowing students to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
