Introduction Mental illness is prevalent in today’s society. 18.1 percent of all American adults are currently living with a mental illness, with 4.1 percent having a condition severe enough to considerably interfere with day to day activities.18 In total, this is 43.6 MILLION people who struggle with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, bipolar, borderline personality, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophrenia.
Overall Female Male 18-25 26-49 50+ Hispanic White Black Asian 2+
Data Courtesy of SAMHSA Mental illnesses commonly coincide with other issues. In America, about 10.2 million adults also deal with drug addiction, 26 percent of homeless …show more content…
We spend a lot of money fixing this situation, but it is still a real issue in today’s society. So how are we working to fix this? Mostly by use of drugs and psychotherapy. These are proven to be very helpful, but most Americans are missing out on something that can be very helpful:
DOGS.
Around 37 to 47 percent of all US households own dogs.20 Many of these dogs have the potential to help their owners deal with mental illnesses, and the problems they cause. How could a dog help? By becoming a service dog. Service Dogs
1
Under the American with Disabilities Act, a service dog is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for and individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog is required to be directly related to the person’s disability.14 There are many different types of service dogs, but this text focuses on psychiatric service dogs, or PSDs. These dogs are trained specifically for those with a psychiatric disability, or mental illness. Service dogs help in many ways, but their most important duties are known as …show more content…
It is characterized by very frequent mood swings, and a chronic fear of abandonment. Like bipolar, those affected are unstable, impulsive, have anxiety, and often self harm.21
Dissociative Disorders All three of the different types of dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality through a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. Dissociative amnesia is difficulty remembering information about one’s self. What is forgotten may surround a particular event, like
7 combat or abuse, or even information about identity and life history. Depersonalization disorder involves ongoing feelings of detachment from actions, feelings, thoughts, and sensations, like they are watching a move. Sometimes it may seem like other people and things in the world are simply unreal. Dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by alternating between multiple personalities. Those affected may feel like one or more voices are trying to control their thoughts, and these voices often have names and
I’m Duchess personalities.
I’m Princess
I’m
Overall Female Male 18-25 26-49 50+ Hispanic White Black Asian 2+
Data Courtesy of SAMHSA Mental illnesses commonly coincide with other issues. In America, about 10.2 million adults also deal with drug addiction, 26 percent of homeless …show more content…
We spend a lot of money fixing this situation, but it is still a real issue in today’s society. So how are we working to fix this? Mostly by use of drugs and psychotherapy. These are proven to be very helpful, but most Americans are missing out on something that can be very helpful:
DOGS.
Around 37 to 47 percent of all US households own dogs.20 Many of these dogs have the potential to help their owners deal with mental illnesses, and the problems they cause. How could a dog help? By becoming a service dog. Service Dogs
1
Under the American with Disabilities Act, a service dog is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for and individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog is required to be directly related to the person’s disability.14 There are many different types of service dogs, but this text focuses on psychiatric service dogs, or PSDs. These dogs are trained specifically for those with a psychiatric disability, or mental illness. Service dogs help in many ways, but their most important duties are known as …show more content…
It is characterized by very frequent mood swings, and a chronic fear of abandonment. Like bipolar, those affected are unstable, impulsive, have anxiety, and often self harm.21
Dissociative Disorders All three of the different types of dissociative disorders are characterized by an involuntary escape from reality through a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. Dissociative amnesia is difficulty remembering information about one’s self. What is forgotten may surround a particular event, like
7 combat or abuse, or even information about identity and life history. Depersonalization disorder involves ongoing feelings of detachment from actions, feelings, thoughts, and sensations, like they are watching a move. Sometimes it may seem like other people and things in the world are simply unreal. Dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by alternating between multiple personalities. Those affected may feel like one or more voices are trying to control their thoughts, and these voices often have names and
I’m Duchess personalities.
I’m Princess
I’m