Since ancient times, the relationship between man and animal prevails. Time has changed this connection from being one based on benefits to one based on love and family.

Through the progress of exploration focused on human-animal interaction, researchers have learnt that this friendship provides a list of benefits for both animals and humans.

For Mental Health Month, (HABRI) - The Human Animal Bond Research Institute summarized the recent scientific research on the mental health benefits of the human-animal bonds to raise awareness for people who may benefit from animal companionship therapy. HABRI is a non-profit organization that funds research into the health interest of human-animal interaction. A recent study has uncovered new benefits for stress, depression, post-traumatic stress and for managing mental health.

Now, we have peer-reviewed scientific evidence that tells us service dogs can help reduce symptoms in old-hand with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Pet’s help owners manage their affections and help with a powerful distraction from the stress of having a mental problem, and therapy dogs help lessen the mental pressure in college students.

Beside this, another HABRI-funded research discovered that veterans living with PTSD exhibited better mental health and well-being if they had a service dog, lowering overall symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Higher levels of life satisfaction and less depression to name a few.

This chief study highlights the efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for PTSD, which affects more than 250,000 (30%) of post 9/11 war veterans, with an alarming 22 suicides per day.