May 5 – 11 is Be Kind to Animals Week. During Mental Health Month we at Balanced You want to be sure employees know the link between pet ownership and mental health.
Research from the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone), reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood. Another study published by the NIH was based on the impact of therapy dogs on patients hospitalized with heart failure. Researchers found that after just a 12-minute visit, patients exhibited improved blood pressure and less anxiety.
As the research shows, pet ownership has many benefits on our mental health. Pets offer us companionship, unconditional love, emotional support, and can serve as facilitators for helping us meet new acquaintances and build social support.
With all this good news, why not consider adopting a pet from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC)? Check out the available pets here: Adoption Listings
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