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Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the US. Data shows that around 22 million American adults and five million teenagers (aged 12-17) experience major depression every year.
The good news is that depression is highly treatable, and there’s a lot you can do to improve your symptoms and eventually escape depression’s claws. Treatment can include medication, psychotherapy, complementary medicine, and lifestyle change.
If you’re dealing with depression and love animals, you may wonder whether you can add spending time with a cuddly animal friend to your list of treatments.
So, can you get an emotional support animal for depression? In this guide, we’ll provide an answer to this question and explain how ESAs can help you. We’ll also discuss steps you’ll need to complete to ensure your pet is an official ESA.
Does Depression Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional support animals are an option for individuals with a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders.
Depressive disorders are listed in the manual, so you can get an emotional support animal for depression if you have one of the following conditions:
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Major depressive disorder (single and recurrent episodes)
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Substance/medication-induced depressive disorder
- Depressive disorder due to another medical condition
- Other specified depressive disorder
- Unspecified depressive disorder
However, suffering from one of these disorders is not enough to get an official emotional support animal—you’ll need to obtain an ESA letter that confirms your condition. This letter serves as proof to your landlord that you need to keep your animal with you and saves you from:
- Pet rent, extra fees, and deposits: When you have an ESA letter, your landlord can’t charge you extra for your animal friend
- Eviction: Your landlord can’t kick you out of the apartment because you have an ESA
ESAs vs. Psychiatric Service Dogs
To understand the role and significance of ESAs in battling depression, it’s crucial to learn the difference between them and psychiatric service dogs:
| Difference | ESAs | Psychiatric Service Dogs |
| Training | Training isn’t a requirement for ESAs, but it’s desirable to teach them the basics, including obedience commands, potty training, and loose leash walking | Specialized training is mandatory for psychiatric service dogs |
| Access rights | They may be denied access to certain public places since they’re not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Instead, they’re regulated under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and additional laws in some states. | They can go anywhere with their owners because they’re protected under the ADA. |
| Role | Their main task is to provide support and companionship to their owners. | They can perform specific tasks in accordance with their owner’s needs. They can fetch medication, interrupt harmful behaviors, or wake their owners from nightmares. |
How Does an ESA Help With Depression?
People with depression experience symptoms such as:
- Sadness
- Loneliness
- Social isolation
- Anxiety
- Lack of routine
- Fatigue
- Cognitive impairment
An emotional support animal can alleviate many of these symptoms or make them easier to manage. Here are a few important roles your animal bestie can have:
- Reducing sadness and loneliness
- Improving interactions with others
- Increasing one’s sense of purpose
- Encouraging physical activity
- Providing companionship
Reducing Sadness and Loneliness
Feelings of sadness and loneliness are common symptoms of depression. Some may describe it as if they were drowning and can’t seem to find their way to the surface.
Battling these feelings takes time and effort, and an emotional support animal may be able to speed up this process. By being physically by your side, your ESA ensures you’re not lonely and keeps you company through all the ups and downs you may experience.
Whether it’s an emotional support dog playing with its favorite toy, a cat chasing a thread, or a bird chirping its latest hits, your ESA will bring rays of sunshine into your life and help you combat depression one step at a time.
Studies show that ESAs can also reduce rumination—a never-ending cycle of thoughts about negative emotions, distress, and experiences related to depression. By engaging you in activities and requiring routine, ESAs help you clear your mind and ground yourself in the present instead of constantly spiraling into feelings that can worsen depression and anxiety.
Improving Interactions With Others
Depression can take a serious hit at your social life. You may feel anxious when talking to people, especially those you haven’t met before, and participating in conversations can make your anxiety go through the roof.
An ESA can make social situations much more comfortable. If you hate awkward chit-chat, your ESA can be the ice-breaker you need, because who doesn’t like talking about cute animals? Even if you’re not talking about your ESA, their mere presence can help you feel more confident and calm in different social events and start enjoying interactions with others.
Increasing Your Sense of Purpose
Depression can often trigger feelings of hopelessness and emptiness. A lot of people suffering from depression often feel like they have no reason to get up in the morning. An ESA for depression can change that.
Whatever ESA you have, you’ll need to put some time and effort into taking care of it, which can positively influence your motivation. Some animals require more effort than others, so you can choose the one that matches your preferences.
For example, an emotional support dog for depression requires regular walks and playtime, in addition to food and water. On the other hand, hamsters don’t require walks, so they may be easier to maintain. However, you will still need to keep their “house” clean to ensure they enjoy their space.
While the degree of responsibility depends on your type of ESA, taking care of any animal will give you a sense of purpose and a reason to function even when you don’t feel like it.
Encouraging Physical Activity
For many, the vicious circle of depression looks like this:
- You feel unmotivated to go to the gym or do any form of physical exercise
- Due to the lack of motivation, you spend more time inside, and your energy levels decline
- The lack of energy drains you, and you become unmotivated to complete smaller tasks
- You feel guilty for not doing anything, but you can’t force yourself to break the cycle, which escalates all your symptoms
As research shows that a lack of physical activity can worsen depression, you should try to go to the gym, do some light exercise in the park, or at least take a walk. But, this is easier said than done, and if you lack the willpower, there’s someone who will always be ready to head out—an emotional support dog.
Your dog needs to go out for practical reasons—they have to go potty somewhere. But, dogs also require regular walks and physical activity (some breeds more than others), so they will give you the much-needed (gentle) push to move your body even when you don’t feel like it.
In the context of motivation for physical activity, dogs as emotional support animals are a great choice. Some ESAs, such as cats, could make you even more lazy as they love chilling inside all day long, so be careful when choosing the right type of animal.
Providing Companionship
Whether you feel sad, lonely, empty, or isolated, your emotional support animal will be by your side without judgment. Just by being there, your animal can reduce stress and anxiety and stimulate the production of feel-good hormones.
Your ESA will be your faithful companion through all the ups and downs that come with depression and offer the comfort and strength you need to keep fighting and improving your mental health.
Which Emotional Support Animal for Depression Should You Choose?
Dogs are the most popular choice for ESAs. They come in various sizes, colors, and temperaments, so you can easily find a dog that suits you. For instance, if your goal is to be more physically active, you may consider breeds such as:
- Border collie
- Labrador retriever
- Australian shepherd
Many dog breeds, such as miniature schnauzers, poodles, and shih tzus, are hypoallergenic, making them an excellent option for those more sensitive to pet hair and dander.
Cats are the second-in-line to the ESA throne. They’re sophisticated, clean, and quiet. Cats also aren’t as clingy as dogs, so they’re a better option if you prefer a more independent ESA.
You can also go for some unconventional types of ESAs, such as:
Ultimately, choosing the right ESA comes down to deciding what works best for you. Don’t rush your decision, and don’t make the animal’s cuteness level your only criterion—take your time to research different options.
How Can You Get an ESA for Depression?
You can buy or adopt a pet and invest time and effort to make it your loyal sidekick. Sadly, though, that won’t make your pet an ESA, at least not officially. To make it official, you’ll need to go through the following steps:
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- Finding a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) and scheduling an appointment: You need to research LMHPs and find one who practices in your state. Then, check their availability and schedule an appointment. The LMHP you choose doesn’t necessarily have to be a therapist—a psychiatrist, primary care physician, or clinical social worker can also issue an ESA letter
- Getting your diagnosis: During your appointment, your LMHP will assess your mental health and estimate whether you can benefit from an ESA for depression
- Obtaining the ESA letter: If your LMHP confirms your diagnosis, they will prescribe the ESA letter you can show to your current or future landlord to ensure your ESA can live with you even in apartments that aren’t pet-friendly
Potential Issues You May Come Across
At first glance, getting your ESA letter looks simple, and it can be. But, there are a few potential issues that could delay the process and even get you in trouble with the law, especially if you go online looking for an ESA letter:
| Potential Issue | Explanation |
| Fake ESA letters | Scammers may try to trick you into paying for a letter that doesn’t comply with relevant regulations. Such a letter could get you into legal trouble and prevent you from getting that apartment you really wanted |
| Free ESA letters | There is no such thing as a free ESA letter. If you’ve come across a service offering free ESA letters, you can be confident it’s a scam |
| Finding an LMHP | If you don’t have an existing relationship with an LMHP, finding one who practices in your state and is available when you need them may take some time. If you need your ESA letter ASAP, waiting may not be an option |
Your Service Animal—Your Legitimate ESA Letter Is a Few Steps Away
Your Service Animal simplifies your path toward an ESA letter, prioritizing speed and convenience. The process happens entirely online, allowing you to complete it from the comfort of your own home. The service connects you with vetted LMHPs in your area that are entirely familiar with local laws and regulations and, if you’re approved, you’ll have the ESA letter in your hands within 24–48 hours of the appointment.
You can ensure you’re not wasting time and money by doing a quick and free online quiz to see what your chances of obtaining the letter are before making the payment. If you don’t get the letter or your landlord rejects it, you’ll get a full refund.
Get an ESA Letter ASAP
Want to make your pet an official ESA for depression? Follow the steps below:
- Find out if you’re a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
- Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
- Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
- Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter
