Service dogs may help prevent veteran suicide
October 10, 2018
As the veteran suicide rate remains largely unchanged, experts searching for innovative solutions to help decrease the epidemic have praised the benefits of man’s best friend, the dog.
A study conducted by researchers at Purdue University revealed overall symptoms of PTSD are lower in veterans with service dogs.
“[Veterans with service dogs] had lower levels of depression, lower anxiety and increased social participation, meaning a willingness to leave their house and go engage with society in different activities,” said Maggie O’Haire, the lead researcher and an assistant professor of human-animal interaction.
Time spent with dogs can increase oxytocin and relieve stress. A 2009 report from the U.S. military stated about 80 percent of veterans with PTSD said their symptoms decreased after getting a service dog.
Service dogs are trained to help veterans with mental health conditions by, for example, making space around the owners to decrease anxiety, waking the owners up when they have a bad dream, getting medicine bottles and even giving hugs.
As scientific researchers conduct more studies into the efficacy of service dogs, the list of veterans asking for one grows longer.
Approximately 20 veterans commit suicide each day. Veterans represent 8.5 percent of the U.S. adult population but make up 18 percent of adult suicides. Experts attribute the high suicide rate to the also high prevalence of PTSD and traumatic brain injury in the veteran population.