CWD Daily
Tips for Coping with Depression
If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -
1-800-273-8255.
Tip of the Day
Get help.
Animal assisted
therapy and service animals are different techniques for treating
depression.
Most animals can
be therapy animals – pigs, horses, even cats – and therapy
generally takes place in a therapist's office or other work venue.
Service animals
generally live with the client, and for the most part only dogs are
legally classified as service animals.
According to the
Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA,
“A
service animal is individually trained to do work or perform tasks
for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a
physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental
disability.”
Therapy
animals
are different. “Unlike
service animals, therapy animals are not supported under the ADA,
meaning that they may not be allowed at certain public venues or in
living situations in which the landlord has a no-animal policy.
Therapy dogs are trained but not as rigorously or for the same tasks
as service dogs. Their main responsibilities are to provide
psychological and physiological therapy to people other than their
handlers in times of stress. They have good temperaments and calm,
easy-going personalities. Whereas service dogs are not supposed to
interact with or be touched by anyone but their handler, patients are
encouraged to interact with therapy dogs while they are on-duty.”
Both can be
trained to treat many issues, including PTSD and depression.
CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it.
Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com
