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A Novel Approach to Supporting Student Mental Health in the University Classroom with Therapy Dogs

Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
12 August 2022

Abstract

Therapy dogs visit nearly every university campus in Canada to support student mental health, but they rarely, if ever, visit during a class. We introduced therapy dogs to an undergraduate Sociology of Addictions course. Our findings offer insight on how therapy dogs can support student mental health in the classroom.

Résumé

Le Programme de zoothérapie canine est mis en oeuvre dans presque chaque campus universitaire au Canada pour offrir un soutien psychologique aux étudiants, mais rarement, voire jamais, pendant les cours. Nous avons introduit le Programme de zoothérapie canine à un cours de premier cycle sur la sociologie des dépendances. Nos résultats montrent comment la zoothérapie canine peut contribuer au soutien psychologique étudiant directement en salle de cours.

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References

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper, P. M. Camic, D. L. Long, A. T. Panter, D. Rindskopf, & K. J. Sher (Eds.), APA handbook of research methods in psychology, Vol. 2. Research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, neuropsychological, and biological (pp. 57–71). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13620-004
Canadian Association of College & University Student Services and Canadian Mental Health Association. (2013). Post-secondary student mental health: Guide to a systemic approach.
Dell C., Chalmers D., Gillett J., Rohr B., Nickel C., Campbell L., Hanoski R., Haugerud J., Husband A., Stephenson C., and Brydges M. 2015 PAWSing student stress: A pilot study of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program on three Canadian university campuses Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy 49 4 332 -359
Mental Health Commission of Canada [MHCC]. (2020). Mental health and well-being for post-secondary students. Standards Council of Canada.
Patterson Z. R., Gabrys R. L., Prowse R. K., Abizaid A. B., Hellemans K. G., and McQuaid R. J. 2021 The influence of COVID-19 on stress, substance use, and mental health among postsecondary students Emerging Adulthood 21676968211014080

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 41Number 2April 2022
Pages: 97 - 101

History

Version of record online: 12 August 2022

Key Words

  1. therapy dog
  2. mental health
  3. university classroom
  4. student support

Mots-clés

  1. zoothérapie canine
  2. santé mentale
  3. salle de cours universitaire
  4. soutien étudiant

Authors

Affiliations

Colleen Anne Dell [email protected]
University of Saskatchewan
Sheryl Mills
University of Saskatchewan
Harper Goodfellow
Maria Cruz
University of Saskatchewan

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