During a time in which most social interactions happen online, life can easily get lonely. In combination with the stress of the global pandemic, remote learning has led to drastic changes in mental health. According to a study by the Boston University School of Public Health, depression has tripled among adults in the United States since the start of the pandemic.
Changes in campus life do not make this situation easier, and students have had to adapt in order to preserve their mental health while returning to campus. According to the Smith College Office of Disability Services (ODS), there was an increase in inquiries about emotional support resources throughout the pandemic. One of these options is emotional support animals (ESAs).
“I do really well with a structure and [Teddy] helps me with that,” says Rose Callanan ’22. The pandemic played a big role in her decision to bring her labrador Teddy to campus with her this semester. In a normal year she wouldn’t have, but the thought of living alone in a potentially isolated environment encouraged her to reach out to the ODS and explore the option.
In order to request an emotional support animal, all students have to reach out to ODS, who will support them with the next steps. Part of the process is a recommendation by a mental health professional who evaluates the benefits an ESA might have for a student.
A student cannot get their ESA certified by an outside agency. In fact, the ODS warns students that there are many companies that offer fake ‘certificates’ of ESAs for profit. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network, ESAs are not the same as Service animals, and thus do not require a service animal certification. ODS always asks for documentation from a licensed professional when considering a Smith student’s petition for an ESA.
Although emotional support animals can never replace treatment, they can still be helpful for students, especially during the pandemic. Julianne Borger ’22 first bought their cat Cami during the summer of 2020. Since then, Cami has served as an important companion for them. They describe how “being able to cuddle her is really nice.” Borger really wanted another being in their room, since they have never lived without a roommate and are used to sharing their space. Although Cami can be a little wild and cause a mess, Borger is happy to have brought her.
Borger plans on bringing their cat to campus again next semester. They do acknowledge, however, that this will change how they do things. Having an emotional support animal means a lot of responsibility. ESAs require routine and care that can mean less flexibility with opportunities like staying out late or going away for spring break. ODS encourages everyone to explore other options, since this lack of flexibility can in some cases lead to further isolation.
But Smith’s changes in student living created a beneficial environment for those wanting to bring an animal to campus. This played a big role for Heidi Comeau ’22 in her decision to bring her dog Olive with her this semester. With most classes online and traveling and activities severely limited, it is easier for her to provide Olive with the attention that she needs. Comeau said that she and Olive bonded over the last summer. Being able to have the dog with her this semester helps Comeau feel less isolated. It also motivates her to get regular exercise, since she takes Olive out for a walk three to four times a day.
However, neither Comeau nor Callanan are planning on bringing their dogs back to campus next semester. Although they have had positive experiences with their ESAs this semester, they acknowledge that during a normal year it would be much harder to take care of a dog. Smith’s current plans for an in-person fall semester would require them to leave their pets alone for long periods of time. The return of all students to campus also means that it is not as easy to live in a large single room, limiting the space the dog needs. Additionally, the dogs’ needs for regular feeding and walking would cause less flexibility for their owners.
While these concerns are important to consider, Callanan, Borger and Comeau do not doubt that it was the right decision to bring their animals to campus this semester. They helped with loneliness, offered real-life experience in a schedule full of zoom calls and even helped their owners meet new people.
[Image: Olive Doing Homework (Photo by Heidi Comeau ‘22)]
