What role do pets really play in mental health?

In this episode, I’m joined by Helen Brooks, Professor of Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing and Mental Health Research Group Lead at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. Helen is also Programme Director for the MSc in Clinical Research and has spent years studying how people manage mental and physical illness in everyday life.

We explore her research on pets and companion animals as emotional anchors — not as therapy tools, but as sources of presence, routine, purpose, and non-judgemental support.

We talk about:

• Why animals provide emotional safety when humans sometimes can’t
• How pets reduce isolation, intrusive thoughts, and despair
• Purpose, responsibility, and behavioural activation
• Identity, contin ...