Best Friends Come in All Breeds: The Role of Pets in Suicidality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pets are often regarded as family members in US households, but are rarely examined as a source of support for individuals who are suicidal. As suicide rates increase, all potential protective factors must be explored. The attachment bond between pets and their owners is akin to that of bonds with other humans, as pets provide unconditional love and emotional support when owners experience distress. This qualitative study sought to discover and describe how adults perceive their pets when suicidal. Participants (n = 71; ages 18–49 years old) with recent experiences of suicidal thoughts or behaviors were recruited from mental health forums on a social media website, Reddit. Participants responded to an anonymous, open-ended survey about the role of their pets during a recent experience of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. A thematic analysis was conducted following the coding of responses. Three organizing themes, describing the roles of pets during the suicidal period, were identified: Protective Influence, No Role, and Risk Factor. Pets that provided a protective influence against the suicidality did so by providing comfort, a distraction, or a reason to live to their owners. Pets that were not present or did not influence their owners while suicidal were classified as no role. Finally, pets were regarded as a risk factor when they caused stress to their owners; health and behavioral problems were both cited as exacerbating the suicidality. These findings indicate the importance of assessing the role of pets in suicidal individuals’ lives. These results provide implications for the consideration of pets in suicide prevention and intervention efforts.