Improving Engagement in Behavioral and Mental Health Services Through Animal-Assisted Interventions: A Scoping Review

What is it about?

Given that client engagement in behavioral and mental health services is predictive of health outcomes there is a need for understanding intervention strategies that promote engagement. This review of literature was undertaken to determine what is known about the use of animals to affect client engagement in mental health services. Initial evidence suggests animals may be beneficial to clients’ engagement and retention in mental health services. It remains unclear who would most benefit from inclusion of animals in mental health services and standardized protocols for these interventions was still lacking.

Featured Image