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Colleen Anne Dell Professor & Research Chair in One Health & Wellness University of Saskatchewan Department of Sociology & School of Public Health [email protected] Subie St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog AUDEAMUS, Inc. SDinT April 26, 2017
PAWSitive Support: Animal Assisted
Interventions in the Treatment of
Addictions & Mental Health
Animal Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are increasingly being offered in the primary health care field in Canada, including in addictions and mental health, and range from therapy dogs in counseling sessions to non-riding therapeutic programs with horses. However, there is little awareness and sharing amongst programs and limited documented evidence about AAI effectiveness. What appears common amongst AAIs though, is recognition of the benefits of the human-animal bond. In this presentation, Dr. Dell begins by reviewing the basics of AAIs within a One Health Framework. She then highlights AAI outcomes focusing on the human-animal bond from her extensive practice and research program within addictions and mental health.
What do you see? The Lighthouse, November, 2016 Saskatoon, SK
What do you see? The U of S, December, 2016 Saskatoon, SK
Outline
1. Accounting for the animal’s voice
2. The human-animal bond
3. One Health
4. The empirical ‘evidence’
Colleen Dell Professor & Research Chair Extreme K-9 Harcum College Work with 3 St. John Ambulance therapy dogs AUDEAMUS, Inc.
Will you still love me when you understand who I really am? Behesha Doan, Extreme K-9
1. Accounting for the Animal’s Voice
Do you or have you had a animal companion in your life?
What does it mean to you?
Does your dog make you feel better? How come? I have a First hand experience with my pet that is capable of behaving like a therapy dog. My dog’s name is fluffy. Fluffy is energetic friendly but timid, boxer mixed. She has light brown fur and a black snout. We adopted her when she was 5 weeks old from a house where she was living with her sister and her owners. Now Fluffy is 2 years old and she is still as cute and lovable as when we adopted her. When I feel sad I can find my dog and feel her soft fur. She retains her consistently calm and patient nature no matter what I do; this is the space that humans can’t provide. Within just 20 minutes or less of rubbing Fluffy and looking at her expression, she quickly restores my positive emotion. Sometimes she needs caring too when she is lonely. Walking Fluffy and seeing her enjoy herself is equally enjoyable. This is what dog therapy means to me.
Animals in Assessment and Treatment 27% of 762 respondents indicated they do include questions about animals in their intake assessments which was similar across the three provinces. Of which: o 86% ask if their clients have companion-animals o 57% ask if they have other animals (e.g., farm animals) o 42% ask if anyone in the family has hurt their animals o 64% ask about what place the animals have in the client family o 20% "other" - included family issues around care and responsibility of animals 22% of 652 respondents reported including animals in their interventions o 35% employ animal-assisted activities, such as, visiting the elderly o 57% do animal-assisted therapy (i.e., animal is part of treatment plan) o 20% include animals in inpatient residences o 43% “other” - included referring clients to animal assisted therapists or equine therapy programs, o incorporating St. John Ambulance dog or SPCA, bringing their personal pets, allowing clients to
bring pets; activities, and walks with dogs; or discussing the potential benefits of companion-animals like pet adoption.
155 respondents answered the question - “what type of animals do you include in your practice?” o 85% - Dogs; 35% - Cats; 30% - Horses; 11% - Farm animals (e.g., goats, pigs, cows); 5% - Reptiles; 16% “other” including fish and rabbits
Social Work Practice and Human-Animal Interaction Survey: A Canadian Prairie Provinces Study
(Chalmers, Rohr, Dell, Dowling, 2016, UofS One Health Symposium Poster Presentation)
ANIMAL’S VOICE
2. Human-Animal Bond “The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment” (American Veterinary Medical Association). https://www.avma.org/kb/resources/reference/human-animal-bond/pages/human-animal-bond-avma.aspx
The HAB is “a strong, positive and mutual interaction between humans and animals”. http://www.pawsitiveinteraction.com/pdf/a_scientific_look.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_CbClV_eTU
VIDEO: Who Do You Love?
Health Benefits of Companion Animals
Pets can benefit human health in 4 key ways: - build social capital - reduce harm - change behaviour - participate in a treatment plan
FINDING Daily visits with a therapy dog by individuals who underwent major joint replacement surgery, for even just 5 minutes, needed less oral pain medication than those who didn’t visit.
Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are “any intervention that intentionally includes or incorporates animals as part of a therapeutic or ameliorative process or milieu”
Kruger, K., & Serpell, J. (2006). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: Definitions and theoretical foundations. In A. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (2nd ed., pp. 21–38). San Diego: Academic Press.) p.27
Animal Assisted Interventions
CONNECTION
3. A Framework for Understanding?
“The field of AAIs currently lacks a unified, widely accepted, or empirically supported framework for explaining how and why relationships between humans and animals are potentially therapeutic” Kruger, K., & Serpell, J. (2010). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: Definitions and theoretical foundations. In A. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (3rd ed., pp. 33–48). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. P. 37.
Health Care Treat sick people and animals
Source: Vikram Misra, WCVM, U of S
Social causes
Economic implications of solutions Historical,cultural reasons
Environmental causes
Psychological motivation Communication
of strategy
Engineering solutions
We need an interdisciplinary team to solve One Health problems
Basic Health Sciences Infectious agent, host response
Health Care Treat sick people and animals
Source: Vikram Misra, WCVM, U of S
Framework: One Health
Research Chair in One Health & Wellness
Artist: Ben Schofield Source: Renee Linklater https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/31696/3/Broadbridge_Legge_Linklater_Renee_L_201111_PhD_thesis.pdf
“Wellness from an Indigenous perspective is a whole and healthy person expressed through a sense of balance of spirit, emotion, mind and body. Central to wellness is belief in one’s connection to language, land, beings of creation, and ancestry, supported by a caring family and environment.” Source: Elder Jim Dumont, National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, Honouring Our Strengths: Indigenous Culture as Intervention in Addictions Treatment Project - University of Saskatchewan. (2014). Reference Guide. Bothwell, Ontario: Author. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Funding Reference Number AHI-120535.
EXPLANATION
4. The empirical ‘evidence’
SHR Methadone Assisted Recovery Services Can a Therapy Dog assist methadone clients in highest need for motivation related to their HIV and/or addiction status by offering love and support?
Experiencing Love & Support
Prison Project Does the program help participants connect with a Therapy Dog through the attainment of perceived love and support?
Seacrest Wolf Preserve
Experiencing Love & Support
http://www.addictionresearchchair.ca/creating-knowledge/sabbatical-research/i-had-a-dog-song-and-video%e2%80%8e
Military Veteran Health
Pilot Study: Impacts of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program On The Wellbeing of Older Adults In A Saskatchewan Veterans Affairs Canada Residence
Visiting with a therapy dog contributes to the wellbeing of older adult war veterans by: (i) bringing back happy and/or fond memories (ii) providing an opportunity to reminisce
The Impact of Service Dogs in the Lives of Veterans Who Problematically Use Substances
“He brightens my days and calms my nights”. Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan (2011). Until Tuesday:
A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. Hyperion: New York.
1. How has your service dog helped you in general (physical, mental, social, spiritual) - what changed in your life because of your service dog?
2. How has your service dog helped you reduce or eliminate your misuse of substances, specifically alcohol (and illicit drugs if applicable), as well as any prescribed medications, like opiates/narcotics, which have the potential for abuse?
Equine ‘Therapy’ Story
