We all want to be happy and live a good life, but the fact is, many of us have had moments in our lives when we feel down – it’s natural. While most of us can pick ourselves back up again, others experience more serious mental health issues such as depression, mental illness, stress, anxiety or addiction that may require medical intervention.

According to many mental health experts, the fallout from these illnesses can ripple through our lives and affect everything we do, from getting out of bed in the morning, to interactions with loved ones, even our ability to hold a job. Getting help to manage these issues is crucial to living a healthier life.

I recently learned about a new form of therapy – horse therapy. In this video, I meet with owner/operator and peer support counsellor, Erin Gallant, and Eastern Health clinical occupational therapist, Danielle Hogan, to learn more.

They walked me through the basics of the ‘Stable Life’ program, which in simple terms, is interacting with a horse through grooming and other activities to improve mental health, but in reality, is a doorway to gaining a sense of meaning, purpose, self-worth and belonging.  To quote Erin Gallant, “through being with and caring for this creature, clients will learn the power of themselves.”

You can also view this video on Eastern Health’s YouTube page

For more information about mental health services at Eastern Health, please visit our website.

For more information about Stable Life, visit www.spirithorsenl.com .

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911 or the Mental Health Crisis line at 1-888-737-4668. ■

This video was produced by Robyn Lush and Phil Simms of Eastern Health’s Corporate Communications department.