Andorra's First Inpatient Dog Therapy Launches for Teens in Mental Health Unit

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell now holds bi-monthly dog therapy sessions on its fourth-floor ward, targeting inpatients aged 12 to 18 with severe mental health conditions.

Organised by Kissus (also referred to as Kissos Andorra), the voluntary group workshops take place two Saturdays a month. They represent Andorra's first inpatient animal-assisted therapy programme, unlike previous efforts for adults at the hospital's day unit, where outpatients met dogs in external spaces.

Cristina Pitart (also Pitarch), the group's canine educator and director, facilitates the sessions with Tequila (also Tekila), a dog selected for its emotional stability and calm demeanour in therapeutic environments. Additional dogs, including Bru and Mel from Canis Grup, are being adapted, with some already supporting adult outpatient work. Activities start with relaxation and contact-building, progressing to guided games that encourage interaction, communication, emotional bonding, and self-expression. Pitart observes that patients often arrive withdrawn but gradually open up, relax, and connect with the world through the animal, yielding emotional and cognitive gains while cutting stress. Participation remains optional, but attendance is strong, with some youths eagerly awaiting visits.

Maria Giró, the unit's clinical head, integrates the workshops into routine care, noting near-capacity turnout—even from those preparing for discharge—that counters mental health stigma and builds trust for other treatments. "It's the day we can barely fit everyone," she said, praising the dog's non-judgmental nature as a neutral positivity source, supported by evidence of anxiety reduction. The sessions also simplify staff interventions by distracting and engaging patients.

Funded by the Fundació Aurora Fornés i Padreny and managed by Eduard Padreny, the project draws from proven international models, including Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona. Padreny described it as a long-sought goal, backed by studies showing benefits like higher self-esteem, with rigorous hospital protocols ensuring safety and hygiene. Launched late January or early February, the initiative has completed several sessions incident-free and is now a stable fixture, not a pilot, with plans to expand. Giró and Pitart both affirmed its lasting impact and high reception.