COVID-19 highlights the need for increased emotional support

The 10th of September is World Suicide Prevention Day and this year the global theme is ‘Creating hope through action’. This message focuses on the hope that people will be empowered with confidence to engage with this complex subject. “Working from home, schools closing, quarantining, social remoteness, unemployment and the loss of loved ones is the reality of COVID-19. Even though we now have a glimmer of hope for some form of normality, with talk of an imminent 4th wave there is no doubt that the pandemic is and will continue to impact our lives,” says Marycke Ackhurst, pet behaviour expert from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. 

Ackhurst says that at the heart of the Hill’s brand lies the fundamental desire to make a difference in not only pets’ lives but those of pet parents and their families too. “Through years of working closely with organisations locally and around the globe we know that pets provide emotional support.” Having recently sponsored A Dog for Life on Netflix, Hill’s Pet Nutrition was able to work with organisations to make a difference in the lives of South Africans from all walks of life, some having suffered loss, lacking in self-esteem, and experiencing anxiety. Ackhurst adds that the show has also helped to bring much needed awareness to the emotional support pets provide. 

Depression affects more than 260 million people in the world while around half of all mental health conditions start by age 14. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29.  In 2019, South Africa was ranked number 10 in countries with the highest suicide rates, with the World Health Organisation saying that every 40 seconds someone in the world commits suicide.