Animal Therapy Aid Veterans with Mental Health

By Michael Ye

_{Phillip Labaria, 33, a Occupational Therapy major and a Army veteran, Antonio Velasquez, 21, a Marketing major at York College and a Marine Corps veteran, and Larry Eaton, the Director of Veterans Affairs, tell their stories about their lives and their advice to other veterans, such as Pet Therapy. Video edit Michael Ye}

_{Paws of Honor Two Heroes, One Leash statue from the Disabled American Veterans Bronx Chapter 23 of NY Founder, Abe Wolkolsky presented to James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, New York} _{in recognition of the men, women, and K9 unit service dogs of the Armed Forces for devoted service, bravery, compassion, and strength. Photo credit Michael Ye}

According to the NIH, animal-assisted therapy/pet therapy has indirect anecdotal evidence in assisting veterans with suicide prevention.
In a New York Times magazine article, it was reported that veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) have formed positive bonds with parrots.
A New York Times article in 2019 reviewed the movie documentary ‘To Be Of Service’ and its portrayal of the bonds between dogs and veterans with PTSD.
According to a Youtube video, equine therapy helps veterans cope with PTSD.

_{According to studies, PSD (PTSD Service Dogs) may benefit veterans with PTSD. Positive interactions have been proven to increase levels of oxytocin levels in humans and dogs, causing more positive mood and decreasing negative emotions. Small dog on a leash in an Amtrak Train traveling with its owner. Photo credit Michael Ye}

According to a New York Times article, there was an increase in suicidal rates amongst veterans over a ten year period from 1999 to 2019, averaging to 20 veteran suicides per day, caused by PTSD or traumatic brain injuries affecting their mental health. According to the NIH, animal-assisted therapy or pet therapy has been reported to help veterans with their PTSD and for suicide prevention.

Defining PTSD

The NIH reports that PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a trauma and stressor-related disorder caused by the experience of one or more traumatic events. The person would suffer from negative mood, periods of depression and anxiety, flashes of anger and reckless behavior, and sleeplessness. They are additionally susceptible to drugs and alcohol, and can become suicidal. This leads individuals with PTSD to become disengaged from relationships and others, avoiding public places and strangers, and detaching themselves away from the whole.

According to the New York Times, PTSD can often be left untreated, with civilians getting trauma from rape or veterans getting it from “combat trauma.” Another article in the New York Times proposed that Speech analysis can help determine whether the veteran has PTSD.

_{Phillip Labaria, 33, Occupation Therapy major at York College Student, is an Army Airborne Veteran who made over thirty jumps in his military career. He said, “I had TBI during some of my jumps and PTSD during deployment to Iraq.” Photo credit Michael Ye}

In a New York Times article, it reported that one in five veterans receiving disability benefits suffers from PTSD.

PTSD leading to Suicide

In a New York Times article, it was written a story about a forgotten battalion of the 2/7, a Marine battalion who had fought in the front lines and got PTSD and without any refuge when they returned home, they committed suicide. Many of the members of that battalion who made efforts to help veterans with PTSD also eventually committed suicide. A lot of them seeked for help in the V.A. and many of them quit therapy because of the ineffectiveness and they eventually took their own life by shooting themselves in the head or hanging themselves.

According to the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, on the National average, the rate of suicides from ages 18-34 is the highest, and in New York, ages 55-74 is the highest.

Antonio Velasquez, 21, a Marketing major at York College and a Marine Corps veteran teared up and said, “Sadly, it’s come up a couple of times. He was very young, a little older than me, and he was a happy-go-lucky guy. He had a wife and kids, and it caught everybody off guard.”

Labaria said, “My ex-fiance left me when I was still on deployment. So that really took a toll. I was then on the second month of deployment so I still had seven to eight months left. It was hard and I had suicidal thoughts. Then one of my buddies told me that problems come and go as long you don’t hang on to it and it’s gonna go away.”

Support for Animal Assisted Therapy/Pet Therapy

_{Astoria residents Ross and Steph on Steinway Street with their 6-year-old dog, Tata explained how pets can help veterans. Ross said, “Dogs are the best form of therapy.” Steph said, “Tata will comfort me all the time, and he can tell when I’m sad or upset, and he try to get close to me and it helps.” Video by Michael Ye}

In a New York Times article, it was reported in the effort of Lara Trump, former U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law lobbied for the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act, PAWS Act never went to a vote. The PAWS Act was a bipartisan legislation that would pair veterans with psychiatric dogs who would aid their owners in coping with fear, stress, and anxiety.

The V.A. officials had opposed this bill because they thought it would lead to unintended and negative consequences for veterans entrusting their well-being to an unproven treatment regime. The V.A. further endorsed that they use evidence-based medicine which is therapy that has proven value.

Labaria, who owns three cats, said, “When I’m with my pets, I don’t really think about that deployment. I think about when my pets was still a kitten, then all the bad thoughts really just go away.”

_{Chris, an Astoria resident, a Disco Paws worker on Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens, and a dog connoisseur explains how working for this store is rewarding, where he can take care of pets all day. Video by Michael Ye}

A New York Times article reviewed a movie, “To Be Of Service,” a plot documentary about veterans and their dogs and how it has helped them cope with their PTSD, TBI, and suicidal ideation.

_{Antonio Velasquez, 21, a Marketing major at York College and Marine Corps veteran, has three dogs and one cat. He says, “Being that I have so many animals in my house, I do a lot of research on them, and I just see their tendencies. I had actually seen how my cat would favor her and heal her when my sister was hurt, and dogs are just so empathetic.}” _{Photo credit Michael Ye}

According to a Youtube video, it reported that equine therapy helped veterans with PTSD. In a New York Times article, the writer gives an insight into the intelligence of parrots. The article writes small stories about how veterans with PTSD or TBI create a bond with these creatures.

_{Chris from Disco Pets said, “Disco Pets is a dog daycare center that does a lot of things, from training and grooming dogs to helping dogs relax. Dogs are very good listeners. In their own ways, they give therapy.” Various dogs on the Disco Dance Floor in Disco Pets, Astoria, Queens. Photo credit By Michael Ye}

How Veterans can get help and resources

A New York Times article discussed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, a bill passed by Barack Obama. This allows more access to veterans to get evaluations from outside sources without waiting time from the V.A. for professionals to get assistance with PTSD and TBI, and other mental health disorders.

_{Larry Eaton, Director of Veterans Affairs at York College, said, “I help veterans transition from military to civilian life, and I help them to adjust to college life.” Photo Credit Michael Ye}

Labaria said, “Talk to other veterans. I used to go to a veteran group and talk with my buddies. They’re not my friends. They’re my brothers. I still talk to them even after I got out years ago.

According to a Youtube video, there’s a Marine veteran who are helping out other veterans with PTSD in animal therapy. In the video, he explains how rewarding it is to get therapy from his own pets, and helping other veterans who have PTSD.

According to the V.A. website, there are resources available for suicide prevention and other mental health issues such as PTSD and TBI. Additionally, there’s an article about animal assisted therapy. It reported that in a survey in 2015 that over 50% of VA facilities used animal assisted therapy for veterans with depression and anxiety. There’s a growing study that it can help with PTSD as well.

Eaton said, “I’m very involved with my students and make sure that they get all they need, and anybody who comes in from the community. With respect to the suicide rates, it’s just having more services that they can connect to and being an outlet for them so they can speak to somebody and that they have the resources to do so.”

Additional Resources

According to the VA article about Assisted Animal Therapy, the website http://www.animaltherapy.net provides links for veterans to get information about animal therapy.

Pet Partners, formerly Delta Society, provides training for volunteers and their pets for therapy. https://petpartners.org/

The Ye Journal