In a heartwarming initiative coinciding with National Suicide Prevention Month, the College of Charleston Women’s Soccer team has welcomed a new member: Truman, a therapy dog. This addition highlights the importance of mental health support for college athletes, a demographic particularly vulnerable to stress and depression, with suicide being the second leading cause of death among them, according to NCAA statistics.
Truman made his debut a few weeks ago, quickly establishing himself as a beloved fixture within the team. “He knows that we may need more than we realize,” said Emma Revels, a sophomore player.
Cathy Bennett, Coordinator of the Therapy Animal Program at MUSC, emphasized the natural instinct of dogs to sense human emotions. “I believe all dogs have an instinct to understand what a human is going through,” she remarked.
For many athletes, college life can be daunting, marked by newfound independence and accompanying anxieties. Associate Head Coach Shanna Caldwell noted, “College is a challenging time for students, athletes, and people in general. Truman’s presence lightens the atmosphere and helps alleviate stress.”
The pressures of college athletics amplify these challenges, making emotional support even more crucial. Bennett explained, “Healthy, energetic college students experience stress and anxiety. A well-suited therapy dog provides support and brings what I like to call ‘tail-wagging happiness,’ helping relieve anxiety before, during, and after games.”
Unlike emotional support animals, which typically work one-on-one with individuals, therapy dogs like Truman are trained to interact with groups, providing comfort and joy to everyone they meet. Bennett added, “You don’t need to have a physical or emotional disability to benefit. When you interact with this dog, something changes within you—those anxious feelings start to fade away.”
Revels shared her enthusiasm for Truman’s impact on the team, stating, “There’s already such good energy, but the joy and laughter he brings just adds to it. I know today’s going to be even better because he’s here.”
