To qualify for an emotional support animal (ESA), a person must have a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The disability can be any mental or emotional health disability, such as severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or other psychological disorder. Emotional support animals provide a therapeutic benefit to their owners through comfort and companionship. Any domesticated animal may be considered as an ESA, and they can be any age. However, an ESA must be able to be manageable in public and does not create a nuisance. ESA’s do not perform specific tasks, instead, it is the presence of the animal that relieves the symptoms associated with a person’s serious mental health condition. To legally have an emotional support animal, the owner must be considered to have a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability by a licensed mental health professional, which is documented by a properly formatted prescription letter. Here is a list of general emotional/mental challenges and impairments that can be helped by an ESA:
- Age-Related Cognitive Decline
- Anxiety
- Any Psychiatric Condition
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD)
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Cognitive Disabilities
- Depression
- Developmental Disabilities
- Emotional Instability
- Learning Disabilities
- Memory Loss
- Mood Disorders
- Panic Attacks
- Personality Disorders
- Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychosocial Disabilities
- Separation Anxiety
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Stress Problems
- Suicidal Thoughts (suicidal ideation)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
