Paws for Mental Health Awareness

JESSICA CHARBONNEAU, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY; GREG HUM, CAMPUS LIVING CENTRES & STEPHANIE MUEHLETHALER, CAMPUS LIVING CENTRES

Who are we?

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

Have knowledge of the research which supports the positive impacts of integrating animals accompanied by a well designed and structured program into a Residence or College/University campus.

Have an understanding of the fundamental ways in which an animal companion and animal-assisted therapy in Residence or on a College/University campus can be valuable to the health and wellness of the student and staff populations.

Learn about the Health and Wellness Dog program which has been implemented at Canadore College and its impact on both the staff and students.

Research

Pre-historic time Wolf/Dog as first animal Greek horses Egyptians African tabby wildcats

Caught mice and rats They were pampered and treated with utmost respect.

1792 York Retreat Mental illness Reduce use of drugs and restraints

Research continued

1919: St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C Companions for residents in psychiatric care.

20th Century – Medications 1944: Paper published on therapeutic value of animals 1969/72: Increase in publications including children and pets

Studies began by accident

1977 Delta Society: Leading North American Organization in AAT Mission to promote mutually beneficial relationships between animals and

people

Newton, CT

Why did we do this?

Growing Research Mental Health Trends at Canadore College Population Size (550) Concerns for Well being- High Level

September 20115 Cases

2011/2012 Academic Year Doubled: 11 Cases

Niijii

Niijii is a 3 year old German Shepherd Canadore’s Mental Health and Wellness Dog “Niijii” means Friend in Ojibwa Recognized as a companion animal Working Towards a St. John’s Ambulance Certificate

Policies and Procedures with Niijii

Mental Health and Wellness Dog Program Coordinator

Medical Evaluation of dog

Allergies in Residence

Training of Dog

Training of Staff

Management of Behaviour

Resident and Staff Screening

Student Contact with Dog

Safety and Risk Management

Financial Costs

Niijii’s Role

1. Communication

2. Provide a positive, uplifting environment during stressful times

3. Positive relationships between Residence staff and students

4. Build community in Residence. (Student to student relationships and staff to student relationships)

5. Create a comfortable, supportive and anxiety free atmosphere during conduct meetings, mediations and interventions and crisis situations

6. PART OF THE TEAM!

Niijii In residence

Rounds

Niijii Requests

Early Orientation and Move In

Judicial Meetings Sits in conduct meetings

Roommate mediations

Specific Programs within Residence Stress Busters 10@10

Exams

Crisis Situations During

After

Recruitment and Retention

Niijii at Canadore

Presence around campus Canadore Health Fair

Move in & Orientation

Bell Let’s Talk Day

Exam destress Day

Student Mental Health Fair

Website Facebook Recruitment

Assessment: High Level Mental Health Cases

High Level Concern for Wellbeing Reports

Students sent directly to hopstial via EMS

Police Assistance Required

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014

2014/2015

Number of Cases

Niijii Requests by Month

Since the launch of the Niijii Request Form in September 2014

September30%

October11%

November19%

December8%

January5%

February14%

March 11%

April3%

Impact of Niijii

Niijii Request Forms All students have the opportunity to request either one on one or

group time with Niijii via an online form.

Since the launch of the Niijii Request Form in September 2014

Homesickness

I miss my dog

Mental Health Concern

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

2014/20152014/2015

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

12%

2% 2% 1%

40%

15%17%

7%4%

12%

Degree of Helpfulness

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Niijii’s Impact on Student Transition to College

21.25

8.8

11.16

55.78

8.08

22.67

Community Floor Programming

24 Hour Mental Healkth & Wellness Centre/Crisis Line

Canadore Cares Week

Niijii- The Mental Health and Wellness Dog

Monthly Residence Council Dinners

Other

Winter Move Out 2013

What Residence Activities best helped you relieve stress and anxiety while living in residence?

Winter Move Out 2014

29.75

10.11

11.08

44.9

34.58

19.01

Community Floor Programming

Multicultural Week

Canadore Cares Week

Niijii- The Mental Health and Wellness Dog

Monthly Residence Council Dinners

Other

What Residence Activities best helped you relieve stress and anxiety while living in residence?

Assessment: Focus Groups

Focus Groups Niijii’s Role

“Whenever I’m Stressed out about things that are going on or exams, I always go to the office and find him there and I’ll just play with him a bit”

“Niijii definitely helps with stress. Just the fact of having a dog that loves you unconditionally just because you are you, helps you especially during exam time because it’s easy to take off stress and not have to worry about exams. I guess when you’re stressed out and you see a dog you get happy and kind of forget what is going on that quick second”

Niijii’s Purpose “I think Niijii is here basically to be a positive impact for anyone living in

residence because he makes everyone happy”

Assessment Continued

Focus Groups Niijii’s impact on the residence community

I know he created a sense of community for the residents of the first floor because we could hear him barking and we would know he was there and it would give us a chance to see him.”

I think Niijii creates more community with people. For example the girls across the hall, we never really talked that much; however when we saw Niijii outside our room we saw them too and talked”

Niijii’s opportunity to better serve the community

“Just being around more. Not just having him in the office because you have to go out of your way. I know one time he was walking around the school which was cool so having him at the school more.”

“Having more residence events with Niijii or just being there with big things that are happening like move in and move out days, having him interact with students.”

Student Testimonials

Future of Niijii

Two research studies Consistent training/practice with the RA team Higher presence at college and in Residence Incorporating him more into residence programming and community

building

Other opportunities

St. John Ambulance Red Cross

Questions???

Thank you!

References

Barker, S.B. & Dawson, K.S. (1998). The effects of animal-assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Psychiatric Services, 49, 797-801.

Levinson, B. (1965). Pet psychotherapy: use of household pets in the treatment of behavior disorder in childhood. Psychological Reports, 17, 695-698.

Lockwood, R. (1983). The influence of animals on social perception. In A. Katcher & A. Beck (eds.), New Perspectives on our Lives With Companion Animals (65-71). Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press.

Urichuk, L. J. & Anderson, D. (2003). Improving Mental Health through Animal- Assisted Therapy. 87