“I need to pet a corgi right now,” a student says to her friend as they gather around a group of peers petting dogs just outside the Hahn University Center. In honor of World Mental Health Day, the USD Center for Health Promotion and Wellness brought therapy dogs to campus Monday afternoon.
The event was made possible through a pro bono partnership with Love on a leasha local non-profit organization whose goal is “to bring comfort, happiness and healing to more people nationwide by increasing public awareness of pet therapy.”
“We know that the presence of dogs can have a very positive impact on students’ mental health and we can see this very quickly in the students who stop by to visit them,” says Claire Gosen, MA, associate director of the health promotion for the center. “Dogs have a quick and charming ability to alleviate any stressor or anxiety and bring great joy to our students, and even to the employees who stop by to say ‘hello.’ We are so grateful to the volunteers who share their time and their wonderful dogs with our community.
The center typically hosts dog therapy events several times per academic year. They organized this particular event as an intentional way to celebrate World Mental Health Day as a USD community.
“We know that students love visiting therapy dogs and this would be a great opportunity for our health promotion team to promote some of our key mental health resources,” says Gosen. “Our therapy dog events are a great reminder for students to take a break from their busy day, get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and be in community with others.” »
For more information on student mental health resources, please click on the links below.
– TimelyCare app (provides free virtual mental health care to all USD students 24/7)
– Free, anonymous online mental health screening
— Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak