Emotional Support Animals provide comfort to Lee students
Photo courtesy of Grace Chapman.
Amidst the weight of exams, deadlines and other pressuring measures, certified Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are helping some students cope with the stress of college.
Grace Chapman, a freshman psychology major, receives comfort from her service dog, Bert. Chapman says Bert was crucial to her acclimation at Lee and assisted her during the stress of moving to college.
“I have PTSD, and I have what we call panic attacks even though it’s not technically anxiety,” Chapman said. “I can’t stay without him because they happen pretty frequently, and he’s really helpful whenever I have an attack. I don’t think I’d be able to do it without him, especially being in a new place and a new town.”
Sarah Ardyn Clayton, a Lee alumna, describes how her cat Ellis greatly benefited her mental health during her time in school.
“I cannot overemphasize how much having Ellis at school with me made a positive impact on my mental health. I came to depend on him a lot really quickly, and it was amazing what a difference it made to always be able to come home to a sweet, loving kitty who was always happy to see me,” said Clayton. “There's something so pure about the way pets love, and knowing I always had him to cuddle with and to play with lowered my stress and made really hard days bearable. It would have been so much more difficult to get through the end of my senior year without him.”
Photo courtesy of Sarah Clayton.
Dr. Bryan Poole, an associate professor of psychology, explains how certified animals can connect students to their surrounding community and help decrease anxiety and stress levels.
“ESA's are thought to help individuals in a variety of ways. For example, an ESA might increase socialization, connecting students to others and creating new connections,” said Poole. “Petting an ESA might bring a sense of tactile pleasure and emotional relief. Their mere presence may even provide a sense of security and familiarity.”
Prior to bringing their pets to campus, both Chapman and Clayton had to register their ESAs with Lee. To begin the process, Clayton went through Residential Life and Housing.
“I first reached out to Morgan Jones in the Housing office, and she sent me documents explaining the process and the forms to fill out,” said Clayton. “I had to document that my cat had his vaccinations, and I also needed documentation from my doctor that it was important for my mental health that I had him there. I brought that and a brief application form to Academic Support, and then I had to wait for the committee to meet again to review the application.”
Chapman had Bert approved by Academic Support before August, so she could have her dog with her during move-in weekend. She recommends students get their ESAs registered early, so the animal can adapt to the new environment with them.
“It’s really helpful getting [registered] ahead of time because he [otherwise] wouldn’t have been able to be with me,” said Chapman.
The approval process can be lengthy, as the Academic Support office has to filter through applications and determine which cases constitute legitimate mental or emotional needs.
“There are plenty of people who claim their pets as ESAs in order to get special privileges, which can make people more wary and makes it harder for those who could really benefit from having one,” said Clayton. “However, having my cat has made a world of difference for me, and for a student who struggles with mental health, I would highly encourage looking into it.”
For more information about the process of registering an ESA at Lee, contact the Academic Support office at academicsupport@leeuniversity.edu.
