Puppies Come to Seething Wells

Kingston University celebrates University Mental Health Day by bringing in puppies for students to play with.

On March 14th, puppies and dogs were brought into the Seething Wells in Lambeth common for students to meet for University Mental Health Day. This is the second dog therapy session that Reslife have set up this academic year, and both events have been well received and enjoyed by the students and puppies alike.

The dogs are trained therapy animals, brought in to help students briefly switch off from the end of year assignments and provide them with their therapeutic presence for the afternoon.

The Reslife team at Seething Wells said: "Studies show that spending time with the dogs can reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness."

Mental health organisation, Priory, have said: "Animals can trigger the release of endorphins, a feel-good neurotransmitter which gives a calming effect and boosts the level of serotonin, a chemical linked with happiness and well-being.

“Universities worldwide are turning to therapy dogs to relieve their students' pre-exam nerves and first-term homesickness.”

The puppies were very excitable, as expected, climbing over students and zooming around the common room. Some of them, as young as 12 weeks, will be looking for their new homes over the coming weeks, according to the puppy care team. 

University Mental Health Day has been running for the last 16 years, to break down the stigmas attached to talking about mental health, and raise the significance of student mental health in particular.