Animal-Assisted Support in Public Mental Health: Evidence, Ethics, and Lifespan Perspectives

The involvement of animals in supporting human mental health has deep roots, with documented examples of animals providing comfort and therapeutic benefits in care settings since at least the eighteenth century. Over the years, animals have increasingly been recognized not only in therapy but also as valuable contributors to wider public mental health and wellbeing. Despite progress, there are ongoing debates about what truly qualifies as an “animal-assisted” mental health intervention, and how these structured approaches differ from the general comfort and companionship that pets naturally provide in people’s lives. Most research and formal programs have focused on children, students, or younger people, especially involving dogs and horses, but there is still much to learn about the impact of animals on adults, older individuals, and across different stages of life or community settings. In recent times, there is growing interest in expanding our understanding by learning from a variety of cultural perspectives, including traditional and indigenous views, to further appreciate how partnering with animals can strengthen mental health for all.This Research Topic aims to establish a clear and reliable foundation for including animals in public mental health in meaningful and respectful ways. So far, much of the research and practical focus has been on children, young people, and settings like schools and universities—meaning we know far less about how animal-assisted approaches could help adults, older people, and a variety of community environments. Most evidence still centres on work with dogs and horses, leaving the role of other animals less understood. There is also a need for clear, repeatable procedures to show exactly how animals can be involved most effectively. By gathering new research and personal experiences from diverse settings and cultures—including traditional and indigenous perspectives—this collection aims to fill these gaps, giving a fuller picture of where and how animal-assisted support can benefit people’s mental health at every stage of life.Considering these points, suitable themes for manuscripts include, but are not limited to:• How animals take part in mental health services for the public.• The use of animals in therapy sessions or nursing care.• Programs that include animals to support mental health in communities.• New ways to study or evaluate animal-assisted activities.• Reviews of current knowledge and advice for practical use.• Insights from indigenous and traditional perspectives on animals and wellbeing.• Guidelines and policies for safely and ethically involving animals in mental health work. Topic editors: Amanda Wilson, Harriet Elena Clarke Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76972/animal-assisted-support-in-public-mental-health-evidence-ethics-and-lifespan-perspectives