Rise Phoenix Rise Inc. is a non-profit animal assisted wellness program for mental health peers in Lo Not only are the numbers staggering, but so are the costs.
Mental illness has reached epidemic proportions in the United States with inadequate resources available. As of May 2015, NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) estimates that 1 in 5 adults, or 43 million Americans, have a diagnosable mental disorder. They go on to state that 1 in 25, or roughly 10 million American adults, experience serious functional impairment. The Centers for Disease Contr
ol (CDC) reports that in the year 2013, 41,149 suicides were completed. The 2010 data recognizes this fact at $2.5 trillion with a projected $6.0 trillion by the year 2030 in global costs. Due to this, peers experience stigma and in turn isolate themselves. If peers do not get the support they need to cope with their symptoms, they may become hospitalized, homeless, or incarcerated. Peer run programs seem to alleviate some of these negative consequences. In addition, it has been demonstrated that animals help individuals develop better self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-confidence. Research has shown that the “feel-good” neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, are increased while the stress hormone cortisol is decreased. There is also evidence that demonstrates the positive effects animals have physically, emotionally, and socially. Prevention and treatment for those struggling for mental illness is available, is effective, and saves lives.
