Source: Associated Press
A unique animal-assisted therapy program at a psychiatric hospital near Paris is helping patients with mental health conditions improve emotional well-being through interactions with donkeys. Established in 2016 and officially recognized as a healthcare unit since 2022, the program allows patients to walk, groom, and care for therapy donkeys as part of their treatment. Health professionals report that the animals help reduce anxiety, loneliness, and stress while encouraging social interaction, communication, confidence, and self-esteem.
Patients with conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, and anxiety participate in sessions that are fully funded through France’s public health system. Caregivers say the donkeys serve as calming, nonjudgmental companions that help patients engage more fully in therapy and daily activities. The program has expanded to include other animals such as goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, doves, and turtles.
Supporters believe animal-assisted therapy offers meaningful benefits as a complement to traditional psychiatric treatment and are calling for additional research to help gain broader recognition within the medical community.
Read the full story HERE: https://apnews.com/article/france-donkey-therapy-mental-health-hospital-a751b540ba27e82797a2cf5a64baf045