Students flock to pet animals for their mental health

Could some furry, feathered and even scaly friends help students look after their mental health?

The Students’ Union at St Mary’s University College in west Belfast certainly think so.

As part of a week of activities and events to help students with their mental health, the students’ union have arranged for a variety of animals to come to the campus for a day.

Students have flocked to pet the rabbits, gerbils, alpacas and even a turkey and a snake.

For the Union president Caoilte Hamill, the visit of the animals was a way to bring students together.

“You know what, it’s probably just because of how silly it is,” he told BBC News NI.

“We have a couple of different external people coming in to give serious talks and things this week about the effects of mental health and how to better it.”

“But something like this can just prove to people that a nice break from the lectures, a nice break from the day-to-day classroom environment, to come out and have a bit of craic with something that you might not usually get can be really, really helpful.”

“Positive experiences with people with people you enjoy the company of can be absolutely beneficial to people’s mental health and this was just a way to show that.”

And for international student Lezin Baris, who has come from Dortmund in Germany to study at St Mary’s, the visit of the animals was a great example of how important it was to feel part of a student community.

“Days like these are small but precious moments and make everybody laugh and kind of forget about exams and stuff,” she told BBC News NI.

Meanwhile, students Laura McMullan and Caoimhe Scannell had made friends with some rabbits.

“It’s just really good because it gives you a bit of a break from the day at uni, it gives you a break out of class to come and see some of the animals,” Ms McMullan said.

“Animals are like a companion and they keep you busy and take your mind off other things,” added Ms Scannell.