Animals make up an important part of our families and society at large. Some might think of them as pets, but to some, they help out in more specific ways. Service animals, in particular, are especially integral to a vast majority of people with disabilities by performing an important job and improving their owners’ quality of life. According to the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, more than 500,000 service animals served in these roles in 2016.
However, other animals may not be categorized as service animals, but they still perform assistance to their owners’ mental health in some capacity. Generally speaking, all of these animals can be noted as “assistance animals.”
Assistance animals is a broad classification that includes animals that perform a variety of tasks to help in a person’s life. These animals can fit into a few categories.
- Service animals: These animals are most often dogs, but can also be miniature horses. These animals are recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and are trained to provide a specific task that helps with a diagnosed issue.
- Emotional support animals: These can be any animal that offers emotional support to a person. Often prescribed by a mental health professional, emotional support animals are recognized by the Fair Housing Act as animals that can live with a resident who needs their services.
- Therapy animals: A therapy animal is any animal that provides therapeutic support to a person. These animals are less regulated, as they aren’t officially protected by any federal laws. As such, it is up to individual businesses how they will treat these animals.
Although assistance animals are typically trained to perform a function that benefits their owners’ mental health, they also can bring joy and laughter through everyday interactions — something that all animals can bring to people.
How do animals impact mental health?
The phenomenon of the joy of animal companionship can be traced back to the domestication of animals, however, experts have been able to truly examine the scientific reasoning behind it in the past several decades. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), animals can play an important role in our physical and mental health. Animals offer support and camaraderie that can reduce stress and anxiety, and animal companionship can even have health benefits such as lowered blood pressure.
While pets can provide several other health benefits, service animals can offer more direct and immediate assistance. Service dogs can provide help to people with physical disabilities, and people suffering from different types of mental illnesses can benefit from the assistance of a psychiatric service dog.
What are the different types of psychiatric service dogs?
Psychiatric service dogs receive robust training depending on the type of support they will provide. In general, though, PSDs can perform several tasks such as:
- Respond to severe health issues: PSDs can also respond to more severe health issues by looking out for changes in breathing patterns or behavior. By doing so, they can take steps to stop the problem from progressing or bring it to someone else’s attention.
- Ground and reorient: A service dog can help to recenter someone who is experiencing a dissociative disorder. They can also help to recognize a panic attack and offer a calming presence.
- Balance assistance: A PSD can help to regain balance for someone suffering from vertigo.
- Tactile stimulation and pressure therapy: PSDs can provide calming relief through the reassurance of touch and physical contact.
PSDs can also help people with mental illness establish a routine. People diagnosed with mental health disorders can struggle to maintain a regular, healthy routine. A dog can help to bring regularity by reminding their companion when it is time to take medication or go to bed. Taking care of a dog also involves a degree of structure that can help to stabilize a routine.
Beyond these tasks, dogs may also receive training depending on the type of service they will provide, which may vary depending on the mental illness they accommodate to.
Below, find a couple of different types of psychiatric service dogs that specialize in helping those with specific mental health disorders.
Depression psychiatric service dog
The purpose of a depression PSD is to help people suffering from depression. These dogs receive training to offer emotional support through companionship and tactile therapy. A depression service dog can be a helpful tool for combatting symptoms of depression and other similar conditions.
The companionship of a dog also helps to give a feeling of perspective and purpose during troubling moments.
Anxiety psychiatric service dog
Service dogs trained for anxiety support can recognize signs of occurrences like panic attacks. They will offer comfort and reassurance through physical touch. They can even help to remind their companion when it is time to take medication.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) psychiatric service dog
These PSDs help those who suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — which can develop within a person as a result of a life-threatening or traumatic experience. People with PTSD may experience symptoms their service dog is trained to recognize.
PTSD service dogs help by offering companionship, which helps to reduce anxiety, stress, loneliness and depression. A PTSD service dog can even recognize someone having night terrors and take action to wake them up.
How to qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD)
To qualify for a psychiatric service dog, you must be diagnosed with a disability for which a PSD can offer assistance. In addition to anxiety, PTSD and depression, these include:
- Phobias: For people with life-altering phobias such as a social phobia or social anxiety, a PSD may be able to offer the support they need to get through difficult situations that involve the source of the phobia.
- Bipolar disorder: People who suffer from bipolar disorder can use service dogs to help keep a regular sleep cycle, stay alert for dangerous behavior, and recognize manic or depressive episodes.
- ADD and Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A service dog can help with OCD or Attention Deficit Disorder by recognizing signs that their companion has gotten distracted and help to get their attention.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: A PSD can be helpful for people with autism. Providing companionship and tactile therapy, a service dog can help in uncomfortable situations.
Once diagnosed with one or more of these qualifying disorders, you’ll receive a prescription for a psychiatric service dog, which you can utilize in private or public functions.
Which doctors can prescribe a psychiatric service dog (PSD)?
Several doctors can prescribe a psychiatric service dog. Your primary care physician can do it, or they may prefer to refer you to a specialist. Doctors that can prescribe a psychiatric service dog include:
- Family doctor
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Therapist
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Licensed professional counselor (LPC)
- Mental health counselor
- Certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor
- Nurse psychotherapist
All these providers should be knowledgeable about the benefits of service animals and should provide you with the right resources to obtain a psychiatric service dog.
Discussing a psychiatric service dog with your mental health provider
If you think a psychiatric service dog would help you, it is time to discuss options with your mental health provider. If you don’t currently see a mental health professional, this could be a good reason to see a psychiatrist or try to find a new therapist. Be ready to explain your symptoms and ask if a service dog would help.
If, for example, you are worried that your antidepressants aren’t working or you’re searching for a new type of therapy. After being prescribed a PSD, the next step is finding one.
Where to obtain a psychiatric service dog
There are several ways to find a psychiatric service dog. Typically, nonprofits and other agencies train and raise service dogs. A normal dog can also be trained to become a psychiatric service dog, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, they’ll have to be capable of undergoing intense training, which is typically required of all service dogs.
Can every dog become a psychiatric service dog?
Other service dogs may have physical requirements for adequately performing their task, but there is no limitation to the type of dog that can become a psychiatric service dog. With the right training, any dog can learn to fill that role — regardless of size or breed.
Training a psychiatric service dog
A PSD requires complex training and care. Because of this, it is easier to leave the training to professionals, but this can be prohibitively expensive. Training a service dog yourself can be effective, though it is challenging, time-consuming and can be more difficult without previous dog training experience.
Individual training
Training a dog can be a difficult process, and service dogs require extensive training that most dogs don’t receive. To keep fulfilling their duties, they may also require occasional training over time. This can be done at home, but it is easier and more efficient with the help of a professional.
Obtaining a pre-trained psychiatric service dog
A trained psychiatric service dog can help to solve the issues of training difficulty and time spent. However, due to the extensive training, this route can be quite costly. Additionally, service dogs require extra care and training, which can be expensive as well.
Rights and laws regarding psychiatric service dogs
Since service animals provide a valuable and vital service, laws protect their use in a variety of situations. However, since the service being provided by a PSD is usually less visible than with other service animals, restaurants, stores and other businesses may want to see proof of a service dog’s certification and training.
Do you need to register or certify your PSD?
There is no federal mandate to register your PSD, but individual businesses or locations may require certification or proof that your dog is a service animal. This can help when trying to receive accommodations at a housing complex that doesn’t typically allow pets. The Air Carrier Access Act requires service dogs to be allowed on airplanes, but some airlines may also have guidelines on what you must do to take a PSD on a flight.
How do people verify your PSD?
A PSD can be registered in one of several third-party online databases. This may not afford any additional federal protection or recognition by the ADA, but it allows easy access to trainer information and certifications as needed. A service dog letter may also be enough since it is signed by a professional.
What are your access rights?
While federal law offers certain protections for the use of service dogs, individual establishments may have their own rules regarding service animal access.
- Workplace: Under the ADA, employers must allow a service animal that performs a specific important task, so long as that accommodation doesn’t cause danger or undue hardship.
- Housing and Lodging: The Fair Housing Act requires that housing providers make arrangements to allow service animals, even if they have a no-pet policy.
- Transportation: Traveling via public transportation can be stressful. With bright lights, loud noises and large crowds, traveling has the risk of numerous potential triggers. A PSD can help alleviate some of these issues. The Air Carrier Access Act protects the use of service animals in air travel, though individual airlines may have their own rules regarding them.
Although many people no longer have to deal with limited legal protections to bring their PSDs into public spaces, other limitations exist, such as a lack of financial resources.
Covering the costs of service dogs
The cost of a service dog may seem prohibitively expensive. But there are some ways to secure money to pay for a PSD. For example, qualifying veterans can apply for a service dog through the VA. Non-veterans may need to rely on other methods for covering the cost.
Does insurance cover service dogs?
Insurance may pay for some self-care practices, but private health insurance and Medicare do not cover the costs associated with service dogs. However, those who need them can find ways to pay for service dogs through other means.
- Nonprofit grants: Organizations such as the Assistance Dog United Campaign aim to provide individuals with funding for obtaining service dogs.
- Flexible Spending Account: A Flexible Spending Account can help to provide funding for things like a service dog that insurance doesn’t pay for.
Additional mental health resources
SAMHSA: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides a 27/7 hotline that can put people in touch with information sources and care referrals.
Mental Health First Aid: This page provides a collection of resources for those suffering from mental health issues and looking for support.
Additional service animal resources
ADA National Network Service Animal Resource Hub: This page offers information and other resources specifically dealing with ADA compliance and service animals.