Enhancing Mental Health Policy and Practice: A Decolonial Perspective on Animal Welfare in Social Work
Introduction
In recent years, mental health policy and practice have experienced significant attention. However, one area that remains underexplored is the intersection of animal welfare and mental health in the social work field, particularly concerning populations facing homelessness, drug addiction, and Indigenous communities. Despite the stigma associated with pet ownership in these demographics, animals often play a vital role in individuals' lives, offering companionship, purpose, and contributing to their mental well-being. This paper critically examines current practices, challenges, and opportunities in this area, with a focus on anti-oppressive, decolonial, and trauma-informed approaches.
This paper will begin by discussing the rationale behind exploring the intersection of animal welfare and mental health, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of pets in the lives of marginalized individuals. It will then explore important elements of this area, including the impact of animal companionship, the challenges faced by marginalized populations, and the barriers to accessing resources. Following this, the paper will analyze current practice approaches, highlighting the limitations within existing mental health policies and the need for more inclusive and culturally sensitive interventions and lastly, explore alternative decolonial approaches.
Before diving in, I want to first acknowledge my position as a non-Indigenous individual residing on the unceded territories of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), Máthekwi (Matsqui), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) Nations, colonially known as Langley, BC. Additionally, I work in what is colonially known as Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded territories
Rationale
The intersection of animal welfare and mental health is deeply meaningful to me and rooted in my upbringing and lived experiences. Growing up on a ranch, animals were a fundamental part of my daily life, providing companionship, joy, and a deep connection to the natural world. However, the significance of this topic became even more pronounced a few years ago when I had to say goodbye to my beloved dog, who became unexpectedly ill. My dog was not just a pet; she was a cherished member of our family, providing unconditional love, support, and companionship. Her presence brought immense comfort to my father, who formed an inseparable bond with her. The loss of her was deeply felt, leaving a feeling of emptiness within our home and in my own heart. Through this experience, I gained a an even deeper appreciation for the significant impact that animals can have on our mental and emotional well-being.
The disenfranchised grief that accompanies the loss of an animal companion is a reality that many individuals, myself included, have faced. Despite the profound significance of these relationships, there is often a lack of societal recognition and support for the complex emotions that arise when we lose a beloved pet. This realization motivated me to explore the intersection of animal welfare and mental health further, specifically within the context of marginalized communities.
In my work supporting clients who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, and other forms of marginalization, I have witnessed firsthand the deep bond between individuals and their animal companions. From providing assistance with obtaining dog food to securing financial resources for veterinary care, I have seen the tangible benefits that pets bring to the lives of those facing adversity. It honestly brings tears to my eyes. However, I have also encountered the reality of the lack of resources and support available to these individuals and their pets.
This personal and professional journey has highlighted the urgent need for greater awareness, advocacy, and support at the intersection of animal welfare and mental health. By exploring this topic from a critical analysis perspective, I aim to shed light on the systemic barriers that prevent marginalized individuals from accessing essential resources and support for themselves and their animal companions. Furthermore, I hope to contribute to the development of more inclusive and culturally sensitive policies and practices that recognize the importance of the human-animal bond in promoting (w)holistic well-being.
Important Elements of the Area
Current Practice Approaches
In current practice, there exists a significant disconnection between the animal services sector and the social services sector, particularly concerning individuals and their animal companions. Historically, the animal services sector has shown little regard for the owner, often prioritizing the welfare of the animal over the needs of the individual (VHS, 2021, pg. 8). While the social services sector bares little regard for a clients’ animal companion. This disconnect highlights a glaring gap in how support is provided to marginalized communities and their pets.
As stated, within the social services sector, a clear approach to working with individuals and their animal companions is lacking (Atira, 2022). While some efforts have been made to address the intersection of animal welfare and human well-being, such as Atira’s Pet Outreach Program that was launched in 2021, these initiatives remain few and far between. There is a pressing need for more integrated and coordinated strategies that recognize the interconnectedness of human and animal welfare. Furthermore, existing mental health policies and practices often overlook the importance of addressing the needs of individuals and their pets as a cohesive unit. The lack of awareness and understanding of the bond between humans and animals perpetuates stigma and barriers to accessing essential resources and support.
To bridge this gap, collaboration between the animal services and social services sectors is crucial. Together, practitioners can develop more (w)holistic approaches that prioritize the well-being of individuals and their animal companions. This shift requires moving away from siloed practices towards integrated and compassionate care. Efforts should focus on elevating the voices of marginalized communities and centering their perspectives in policy development. By prioritizing collaboration, compassion, and equity, practitioners can work towards building inclusive and supportive communities that acknowledge the interdependence of human and animal welfare.
Decolonial Perspective and Alternative Approaches
It is crucial to recognize the valuable insights provided by Indigenous knowledge and community-based initiatives, especially within a decolonial lens that emphasizes the importance of challenging colonial structures and centering Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. In the context of animal welfare and mental health, this entails acknowledging the historical and cultural significance of animals in Indigenous communities and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into policy and practice.
Insights from studies like Hu & Hajizadeh’s (2022) paper “Mind the gap: What factors determine the worse health status of Indigenous women relative to men living off reserve in Canada?” provide a comprehensive understanding of interconnected challenges faced by marginalized populations, emphasizing the importance of an intersectional approach to promote social justice and equity for both humans and animals. Indigenous women often face disproportionate marginalization due to socioeconomic disadvantages, discrimination, and barriers to accessing social and healthcare services. In the context of domestic violence against women, the love a victim has for their pet can be used to control them, and perpetrators commonly harm or threaten to harm animals to force their victims to stay silent, submit to further abuse, prevent them from leaving, or force them to return to an unsafe home. Recognizing this, initiatives like the SPCA's SafeKeepers Program provide long-term foster care for the pets of those fleeing interpersonal violence, offering support and safety for both victims and their animal companions (BC SPCA, n.d). Additionally, in “Everyday decolonization: Living a decolonizing queer politics,” Hunt & Holmes (2015) advocate for everyday decolonization as a framework for challenging oppressive structures and promoting social justice. Practitioners can engage in transformative practices that acknowledge the agency and dignity of marginalized communities, incorporating Indigenous perspectives to recognize the cultural significance of animals within Indigenous communities and to dismantle oppressive structures. Everyday decolonization also prompts practitioners to address systemic barriers hindering marginalized communities from accessing essential resources and support for their pets, advocating for pet-friendly policies and culturally responsive animal welfare services. By centering Indigenous perspectives and practicing everyday decolonization, practitioners can advance social justice and equity for all, including those with pets, aligning with the paper's goal to address the intersection of animal welfare and mental health within a context of social justice and decolonization.
In “Decolonizing pathways towards integrative healing in social work” by Clarke & Yellow Bird (2021), the authors propose decolonizing pathways towards integrative healing in social work, highlighting the importance of prioritizing Indigenous knowledge systems and honoring the resilience of Indigenous communities. Indigenous traditions recognize the healing potential of animal-human relationships, presenting an opportunity for practitioners to integrate Indigenous models of healing into social work practice. Browne et al.’s (2016) article, “Enhancing health care equity with Indigenous populations: Evidence-based strategies from an ethnographic study,” further emphasizes the significance of culturally sensitive approaches to mental health and well-being. By collaborating with Indigenous groups, practitioners can develop (w)holistic interventions that recognize the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment. This collaboration may involve working with Indigenous elders or knowledge keepers to incorporate traditional healing practices involving animals into mental health interventions, such as smudging ceremonies, ceremonial rituals, or animal-assisted therapy sessions.
"Community Outreach and Engagement" by Ocaño emphasizes the significance of community-led solutions and culturally sensitive approaches in addressing the intersection of animal welfare and human well-being. Drawing from Indigenous traditions of community care and reciprocity, Ocaño advocates for a (w)holistic approach that prioritizes the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, while also highlighting the importance of bridging Western mental health approaches with Indigenous healing practices. By directly engaging with communities and fostering meaningful partnerships, practitioners can develop interventions responsive to their unique needs and priorities, aligning with decolonial principles of self-determination and cultural continuity. McGinnis et al.’s (2019) article “Strengthening animal-human relationships as a doorway to Indigenous holistic wellness” further highlight the significance of strengthening animal-human relationships as a pathway to Indigenous (w)holistic wellness. Their work highlights the interconnectedness between Indigenous peoples, animals, and the environment, emphasizing the vital role animals play in promoting (w)holistic well-being within Indigenous communities. Additionally, practitioners can challenge oppressive structures and foster greater social justice in the realms of animal welfare and mental health by embracing community-led initiatives, valuing Indigenous knowledge, and centering the voices of marginalized communities. This approach ultimately promotes (w)holistic well-being and builds resilient communities grounded in reciprocity, respect, and solidarity. Integrating these insights into decolonial perspectives offers a pathway towards more inclusive and culturally relevant interventions, contributing to the revitalization of Indigenous (w)holistic wellness practices and promoting greater equity and social justice within the field of animal welfare and mental health.
Finally, the concept of One Welfare (VHS, 2021) highlights the importance of an outreach-first and prevention-based community engagement model, acknowledging the interconnectedness between human welfare, animal welfare, and environmental integrity. Despite its potential benefits, only a few agencies currently embrace this (w)holistic approach, indicating the necessity for greater integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives within mental health policy and practice. By integrating One Welfare principles into decolonial perspectives, practitioners can adopt a more inclusive approach to addressing the needs of marginalized communities, recognizing the intrinsic value of animals within society, and promoting collaboration across sectors for collective well-being (Pinillos, 2018). Through initiatives that embrace interconnectedness, practitioners can strive to dismantle oppressive structures and foster a more equitable society for both humans and animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper has explored the intersection of animal welfare and mental health within the social work field, particularly concerning marginalized communities. Through critical analysis, it has been demonstrated that animals often play a vital role in the lives of individuals facing adversity, offering companionship, support, and contributing to their overall well-being. However, despite the significance of the human-animal bond, there exists a lack of awareness, advocacy, and support within current practices, perpetuating stigma, and barriers to accessing essential resources for both humans and animals. Through the lens of decolonial perspectives and alternative approaches, this paper has highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and community-based initiatives into mental health policy and practice. Furthermore, the concept of One Welfare emphasizes the interconnectedness between human welfare, animal welfare, and environmental integrity, highlighting the importance of adopting an outreach-first and prevention-based community engagement model. By integrating One Welfare principles into decolonial perspectives, practitioners can promote collaboration across sectors, recognize the intrinsic value of animals within society, and strive towards building a more equitable society for both humans and animals. In essence, this paper calls for a more inclusive, culturally sensitive, and (w)holistic approach to addressing the needs of marginalized communities and their animal companions.
References
Arkow, P. (2020). Human-animal relationships and social work: Opportunities beyond the veterinary environment. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-020-00697-x
Atira. (2022). Pet Outreach Program: Evaluation Report.
BC SPCA. (n.d.). SafeKeepers Program. https://spca.bc.ca/programs-services/community-work/safekeepers-program/
Browne, A. J., Varcoe, C., Lavoie, J., Smye, V., Wong, S. T., Krause, M., & Fridkin, A. (2016). Enhancing health care equity with Indigenous populations: Evidence-based strategies from an ethnographic study. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1), 1-17. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12913-016-1707-9.pdf
Clarke, K., & Yellow Bird, M. (2021). Decolonizing pathways towards integrative healing in social work. Taylor & Francis. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/50457
Epperson, T. (2013). Meet them where they are. Innerwill. https://innerwil
Hu, M., & Hajizadeh, M. (2022). Mind the gap: What factors determine the worse health status of Indigenous women relative to men living off reserve in Canada? Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-27. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-022-01301-x
The Humane Society of the United States. (2018). Pets for life sustainability guide. https://www.animalsheltering.org/sites/default/files/documents/pets-for-life-sustainability-guide.pdf
Hunt, S., & Holmes, C. (2015). Everyday decolonization: Living a decolonizing queer politics. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 19(2), 154-172. https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160.2015.970975
McGinnis, A., Tesarek Kincaid, A., Barrett, M. J., & Ham, C. (2019). Strengthening animal-human relationships as a doorway to Indigenous holistic wellness. Ecopsychology, 11(3), 162–173. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.0003
Pinillos, R. G. (2018). One welfare: A framework to improve animal welfare and human well-being. CABI International.
Tedeschi, P., & Jenkins, M. A. (2019). Advocacy and rethinking our relationships with animals: Ethical responsibilities and competencies in animal-assisted interventions. In P. Tedeschi & M. A. Jenkins (Eds.), Transforming trauma: Resilience and healing through our connections with animals (pp. 55-90). Purdue University.
Vancouver Humane Society. (2020). Addressing Animal Neglect Through the Provision of Veterinary Outreach Services: Best Practices Through Literature and Data.
Vancouver Humane Society. (2021). Helping People and Animals Together: Taking a Trauma-informed, Culturally Safe Approach Towards Assisting Placed-at-risk People with Addressing Animal Neglect.
Williams, D. L., & Hogg, S. (2016). The health and welfare of dogs belonging to homeless people. Pet Behaviour Science: Open Access Journal, 1, 23-30. https://www.uco.es/ucopress/ojs/index.php/pet/article/view/3998/3913
Zenithson, N. (2019). Advocacy and rethinking our relationships with animals: Ethical responsibilities and competencies in animal-assisted interventions. In P. Tedeschi & M. A. Jenkins (Eds.), Transforming trauma: Resilience and healing through our connections with animals (pp. 55-90). Purdue University.
