Emotional support animals (ESAs) can help their owners through various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. However, some people claim that ESAs don’t really help their owners with depression. How can you know what is a myth and what is reality?
In order to make an informed decision about getting an ESA, you need to understand the facts. Here are five common myths about emotional support animals and depression debunked.
5 Common Myths About ESAs and Depression
Read on to find out more about the most common ESA myths debunked.
Myth 1: Any Pet Can Be an ESA
The Truth: Only pets with an ESA letter written by a mental health pro can be emotional support animals.
This myth has elements of truth: any animal can be an ESA. However, for a pet to be considered an ESA, you must have a legitimate ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional, like a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric mental health nurse, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor.
Mental health professionals might recommend an ESA for depression and anxiety or other mental health or mood disorders. They may also be recommended for individuals with substance use disorders, cognitive disorders, or learning disabilities.
Myth 2: ESAs Are the Same as Service Animals
The Truth: ESAs and service animals are two separate designations.
ESAs and service animals both provide reliable support to their owners, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same. While ESAs are intended to provide companionship and emotional support to their owners, service animals are trained to perform specific tasks and have different legal rights to pets or ESAs.
Additionally, while any animal can be an ESA, only dogs or miniature horses can be service animals.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that service animals must be allowed in areas that serve the general public. That means service animals must be permitted in all areas where their handlers are permitted, including stores, restaurants, hotels, airplanes, museums, and zoos, and businesses cannot limit the places where service animals can go.
For example, a hotel guest with a service animal must be allowed to stay in any room in the hotel, the same as someone without a service animal would, and cannot be limited to pet-friendly rooms as a service dog isn’t considered a pet. The hotel is also prohibited from charging the service dog owner an additional fee for having a service animal stay with them.
Because emotional support animals are not trained to perform a specific task or job, they are not considered service animals or covered by ADA regulations. However, employers or landlords are expected to make reasonable accommodations for someone with an ESA.
For example, you might get an ESA letter from a service like Pettable to get your landlord to allow your ESA (even if they have a no-pet rule) and to waive your pet deposit and monthly pet rent as part of the Fair Housing Act. However, an ESA letter does not qualify your animal as a service animal, and they will be subject to the same rules in public as other pets.
Myth 3: You Need to Register an ESA to Make It Official
The Truth: There is no registry for emotional support animals.
There is no legal registry for emotional support animals. Instead, for your animal to be considered an ESA, a valid ESA letter from a licensed professional is all that’s required. That letter can help you find fair housing and allow your animal to reside with you without a pet deposit or pet rent.
You can also use your ESA letter to request workplace accommodations to allow you to bring your ESA to work with you.
However, while legitimate ESA letter providers are out there, it’s easy to run into illegitimate ones who are out to scam you. When looking for an ESA letter provider, check to ensure that the provider requires you to consult with a licensed mental health practitioner or clinician to ensure you have a qualifying condition.
Also, be wary of providers offering instant ESA letter approvals or an ESA registry. Since there is no ESA registry, providers offering this are likely trying to scam you out of more money.
Myth 4: ESAs Don’t Actually Help With Depression
The Truth: Emotional support animals can help relieve depression symptoms.
Research supports the emotional and physiological benefits of interacting with animals. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), studies have found that pets can help reduce feelings of loneliness, foster social connections, encourage mindfulness and focus, help you build resilience, and encourage healthy habits like daily walks. Even just playing with or petting a dog can increase your oxytocin and dopamine levels, elevating your mood.
ESAs can help decrease common depression symptoms, like hopelessness, loneliness, frustration, stress, loss of interest, lack of energy, and restlessness, simply by providing reliable support and comfort. The act of caring for your ESA creates a predictable schedule that can help give you a sense of purpose when you’re feeling lost.
Myth 5: Having an ESA Means You Don’t Need Therapy or Medication
The Truth: ESAs complement rather than replace traditional depression treatments.
One of the facts about ESAs for mental health is that they can be incredibly beneficial to their owners’ mental health. Still, they don’t replace traditional depression treatments like psychotherapy and medication. Instead, an ESA can complement these treatments for a more holistic mental health treatment plan.
Your mental health professional will work with you to better understand your symptoms and their impact on your daily life. This will enable them to come up with a personalized treatment plan that may include a mixture of talk therapy and/or medication. If they deem it helpful, they can also prescribe an emotional support animal to help you get through your depression.
FAQs About ESAs and Depression
What conditions qualify for an ESA?
Any emotional or psychological condition that improves by having a support animal can qualify for an ESA. Examples include depression, anxiety, paranoia, and insomnia. You may also be able to get an emotional support animal for ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
Can I take my ESA everywhere with me?
No, ESAs are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) like service animals are. You can use your ESA letter to avoid pet fees when renting a home or to allow your ESA to be in a pet-free rental, but otherwise, your ESA must abide by the same rules as a pet.
How do I ensure my ESA letter is legitimate?
Before giving any money to an ESA letter provider, check the following:
- The provider requires a consultation with a licensed mental health professional
- The provider doesn’t promise “instant approval”
- The provider doesn’t offer an “ESA registry” service
Reputable ESA letter providers (like Pettable) will require you to consult with a pro before issuing the letter, which means instant approvals are impossible. And since there is no need to register an ESA, any company claiming an “ESA registry” is a red flag.
Understanding the Truth About ESAs
If you’re considering an ESA to help your depression symptoms, you may come across a lot of misinformation. It’s essential to learn about ESAs and depression misconceptions and learn the truth to understand how an ESA can help you and how you can get one.
If you think an ESA could be helpful, consult your mental healthcare provider for guidance.