Patients with mental health conditions participate in a therapy session involving donkeys at a psychiatric hospital in Neuilly-sur-Marne, in the eastern suburbs of Paris in May. The Associated Press

NEUILLY-SUR-MARNE, France — Therapy donkeys are helping patients with mental health conditions recover in a psychiatric hospital unit outside Paris that’s unique to France.

The 19th century farm buildings and wooded surroundings are a haven within the Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne. One recent Friday, patients took the five donkeys for a walk and cared for them. Some confidently lifted their hooves to remove dirt. Many ended the session with a hug.

The couple behind the program say more scientific evaluation is needed of animal therapy, which is practiced around the world. They would like it to be formally recognized by the psychiatric community as a complementary form of care, citing their experience with patients and caregivers.

“It brings relief,” said Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient. ”You stop thinking about everything else.” She and others were identified by their first names only in accordance with French medical privacy rules.

Patients attend the sessions free of charge as part of their treatment.

Participants are usually paired with a donkey — Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo or Malraux. Over time, they become familiar with each other’s personalities.

Audrey Seffar, a nurse at the animal therapy unit, said Nathalie’s progress after only a few sessions was significant.

“At first, she wouldn’t get out of the cart (provided for people with physical difficulties). But little by little, with encouragement, she did,” Seffar said. “The animal serves as a mediator.”

Another patient, Jerome, 52, said the program helps reduce his loneliness.

“Talking with people, taking part in activities I wouldn’t normally do, it helps me in my daily life,” he said.

He added, “It helps you break away from the routine of treatment and medication. Staying at home isn’t good for me.”

‘Very intelligent’

The first donkeys arrived at Ville-Evrard hospital in 2016 as part of a project launched by Ermelinda and Francois Hadey.

Ermelinda, a nurse specializing in psychiatry, strongly believed in animal therapy benefits and thought donkeys, known for their calm and social nature, would be perfect. Her husband learned how to train donkeys for therapy work.

“A donkey is very intelligent,” Francois Hadey said. “Donkeys are calm, serene animals that are generally close to people.”

Since 2022, the animal therapy program has had official status as a health care unit in the hospital, allowing it to employ three full-time nurses. Volunteers with a nonprofit group help care for the animals.

The program has expanded to include guinea pigs, chickens, doves, goats, turtles and rabbits. Sessions are tailored to people’s needs and preferences, and smaller animals can be brought to hospital rooms.

Alicia Fabi, an 18-year-old nursing student, said the activity gives patients a chance to leave the hospital environment.

“Every time we come back from the activity, they say they feel good, calm and relaxed, and that they enjoyed the outing. That’s really positive,” she said.

Walking together also allows patients and health workers to develop a deeper relationship.

“We talk about many different things, their illness, their lives and just about everything else,” Fabi said.

The sessions are designed as therapeutic interventions for living with anxiety, depression, autism, schizophrenia or other conditions. Staff said they can help improve emotional regulation, communication, social interaction and self-esteem.

“Everything we do with the animals allows us to work with the patient,” Ermelinda Hadey said.