Free Subscription Interactive Corporate Info
All Sections Frontpage Local News Sport Columns Features Letters
MOBILE
MARKET WATCH
PLAY SUDOKU
LOCAL WEATHER
YOUR SAY!
HOROSCOPE
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
ADVERTISING
SITEMAP
Thursday, August 10 2006, 18:29:34 PM Search NST :
Set as Homepage
New Straits Times » Letters IKLANMAYA
OTHER STORIES
• They are a menace to other road users
• Cybercafes must be monitored
• When teacher turns tormentor
• Claims do need greater backing
• The community should lend a hand
• Thanks for early reply
• Visitor limits a good move
• Hospital has enough surgeons
• Defer Act for two years
CHECK 'EM OUT
• Sell / Buy Used Vehicle?
• FREE MBA Globalization Seminar
• The Most Affordable MBA
• International Scholarships Information Reference
• OAG Mobile
• Career Opportunity with Shell
• Property For Sale/Rent
• 1GB Webhosting for RM80!
World News
Agence France - Presse
News
Frontpage
Local
Business
Sport
Columns
Letters
7-Day News
News Archive
Digital Version
Life & Times
Features
Body & Soul
Channels
Art Lobby
Goodbites
Travel
Tech & U
Sunday People
Focus
Forums
Blogs
On the Movie Trail
Zainul Arifin
Education
Learning Curve
NSTP Services
Emedia
Classifieds
Mobile
Affiliate
NSTP Papers
Business Times
Berita Harian
Harian Metro
The Malay Mail
WWW NST
Letters
Pets can help reduce suicides
10 Aug 2006
ANTHONY THANASAYAN, PresidentMalaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) Kuala Lumpur
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE welcome the recent open discussions on suicide — its causes and how to prevent it — in the media.
We believe that one of the best ways to address and overcome this usually taboo topic in our society is when more people talk about it and bring it out into the open.
As a newly-registered society which firmly believes in the power of meaningful companionship with animals for a higher quality of life and positive living, we would like to suggest animal-assisted therapy as a stress and depression- buster.
The bond between humans and other animals has untold benefits, especially among the disabled and elderly.
Animals have assisted humans profoundly in improving a patient’s cognitive or physical functions.
They have enhanced a person’s sense of well-being and reduced loneliness.
Proximity with animals, such as caring for them, helps to bring about positive reinforcement in people’s lives.
We know of the elderly and disabled who through their successful partnerships with their pets now have less need for medication.
They have much calmer personalities and have managed to control the urge to take their own lives.
Bonding with pets has also helped pet-lovers achieve other goals such as improving communication, building trust, decreasing stress and anxiety, and, perhaps most important of all, motivating themselves.
All these are some of the negative factors that drive people to suicide.
Pets are also inexpensive and more accessible to everyone.
Having said all these, those considering taking on a pet must realise that keeping an animal is a lifetime responsibility to the pet, neighbours and the laws that govern pet-keeping.
Current Rank:5.0 ( 5-High 1-Low )
1 2 3 4 5
About NST | Contact Us | Advertising | Subscribe Online | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Write to the editor for editorial enquiry or sales department for sales and advertising enquiry.
Copyright © 2006 NST Online. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment