Around Australia and the world, demand for therapy dogs in educational settings continues to increase post-pandemic to improve students' well-being, amid soaring demand for mental health services. Kids at one Canberra school say their four-legged classmate is not just helping them stress less, but that they're more motivated to show up and learn.
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00:00 Meet Monty, St Monica's unconventional approach to school refusal.
00:07 Before Monty, so we would have a lot of students would come into the front office and they wouldn't want to go into class.
00:12 Anxiety levels were high, being at home a fair bit, particularly over the two years.
00:18 The uncertainty of routines, so schools being open, schools being closed.
00:22 The Covertal's part time presence over the past year, whether greeting students at the school gate, at break time or in the library, has triggered a remarkable behaviour shift.
00:34 We have students who are wanting to come to school, they want to come and see him.
00:39 One of the little boys I taught, he had a lot of difficulties coming in the morning and transitioning from mum.
00:45 And then watching him walk down the corridor with Monty, quite happily heading to class has actually been quite beautiful.
00:51 What's school life like now with him?
00:54 Better than it was.
00:56 Schools across the country have witnessed similar transformations.
01:00 And recent research has found improvements in everything from students' communication skills to confidence.
01:05 The act of physically touching an animal actually helps reduce stress and anxiety and is a really useful form of self-soothing.
01:14 Monty is specially trained and used alongside other support resources like sensory spaces and human counsellors.
01:21 Experts insist every early intervention matters amid a national trend of school refusal and growing demand for youth mental health services.
01:30 We've actually seen a really big spike in childhood anxiety disorders, particularly in Canberra.
01:36 So where initiatives can happen within a school environment, that's really welcomed.
01:41 An important job for this teacher's pet.
01:44 pet.
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