At Ville-Evrard hospital near Paris, therapy donkeys are offering psychiatric patients a unique source of comfort and relief, helping them break from routine treatment in a soothing, natural setting.
- Donkeys help calm anxiety and loneliness in psychiatric patients.
- Patients experience relief and improved mood through animal sessions.
- Program founders seek scientific study to expand therapy options.
What happened
Every Friday, patients at the Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne, near Paris, visit a wooded farm sanctuary to spend time with therapy donkeys. These gentle animals engage with patients in various ways, such as pulling carts, allowing hoof cleaning, or offering quiet companionship. This hands-on experience provides a meaningful break from the hospital routine and helps alleviate symptoms like anxiety and loneliness.
The donkey therapy program was started by a local couple, Ermelinda and François Hadey, in 2016 after training their first donkeys for this purpose. Today, the program includes a variety of other animals like goats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, enhancing the therapeutic environment. Patients attend these sessions for free and report feeling calmer and more relaxed after each visit.
Why it feels good
Donkeys, often overlooked due to cultural stereotypes, have a long history of working closely with humans and are known for their intelligence and gentle nature. This makes them particularly suited for therapy roles, as their calm demeanor helps patients feel safe and soothed. Interacting with these animals offers patients an emotional connection that can ease the stress and isolation that often accompany psychiatric conditions.
Patients like 52-year-old Jérôme express that these therapy sessions provide more than distraction—they enhance daily life by encouraging social interaction and participation in activities outside of their usual treatment plans. Nursing students and hospital staff observe positive transformations, noting patients return from the outings feeling notably peaceful and rejuvenated.
What to enjoy or watch next
The success of the therapy donkey program at Ville-Evrard has sparked interest in conducting formal scientific studies to better understand and standardize the approach. This research could help expand access to donkey-assisted therapy throughout France, offering more patients the chance to benefit from this gentle form of care.
In the meantime, similar animal therapy programs continue to gain attention worldwide, from tiny therapy horses to friendly goats. Watching how these varied therapy animals help foster healing and happiness in care settings offers hopeful insights into non-traditional ways to improve mental health and wellbeing.