Joining me today is Magdelene Roemer or Mags for short. She is the Junior Board Chair for Paws For Patrick, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting young people to Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs to aid them as they live with mental illness. Paws for Patrick was created to honor the memory of Patrick Roemer, Mags’ brother who died by suicide in 2020. Mags is a freshman at Wake Forest University.
The emotional benefits of animal companionship are well-documented. Beyond the popularity of having specified and prescribed emotional support animals, even having animals as pets can foster positive emotional relationships, compassion, empathy, and responsibility in teens. For teens with mental health disorders, particularly in this time of grief and isolation during a global pandemic, the benefits of pets include helping provide structure, companionship, and healing.
One of the most challenging parts of being a teen struggling with a mental health disorder is feeling alone. With stigma so strong, many teens lack important peer friendships or anyone they trust to talk about what is happening to them. Pets can offer emotional support and unconditional love. Studies have shown that animals can boost mood, decrease loneliness, and create feelings of social support. Physiologically, human interaction with animals has been shown to reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Pets can also give teens purpose and an increased desire to live.
Joining me today is Magdelene Roemer or Mags for short. She is the Junior Board Chair for Paws For Patrick, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting young people to Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs to aid them as they live with mental illness. Paws for Patrick was created to honor the memory of Patrick Roemer, Mags’ brother who died by suicide in 2020. Mags is a freshman at Wake Forest University.
Paws for Patrick is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting young people with Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Therapy Dogs to aid them as they live with mental illness. Utilizing their unique Wish Granter and Therapy Dog programs, they provide the funds and resources to bring the love of animals to the people who need it most. They also seek to raise awareness of mental illness and break the stigma that still exists. Patrick’s animals, especially his beloved dog Cici, provided him with a sense of peace and love that no human could ever provide. This work can never bring Patrick back, and the pain of his loss will never go away, yet his memory and his legacy still live on in the most profound way. Learn more about Paws for Patrick at: https://www.pawsforpatrick.org
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