Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41373284›Full record

ReviewHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Can Pets Prevent Suicide? The Impact of Companion Animals on Suicidality: Scoping Review and Clinical Recommendations.

Hannah Van Buiten, Christy Turner, Jaci Gandenberger, Jenni Forkin, Ashley Taeckens, Kevin N Morris, Leanne O Nieforth

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hannah Van BuitenVA Sierra Nevada Health Care, 975 Kirman Avenue, Reno, NV 89502, USA.
Christy TurnerVA Sierra Nevada Health Care, 975 Kirman Avenue, Reno, NV 89502, USA.ORCID 0009-0004-4344-2869
Jaci GandenbergerGraduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2142 South High Steet, Denver, CO 80210, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8882-6509
Jenni ForkinGraduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2142 South High Steet, Denver, CO 80210, USA.
Ashley TaeckensHope Squad, P.O. Box 738116, Dallas, TX 75373, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6953-0075
Kevin N MorrisGraduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2142 South High Steet, Denver, CO 80210, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4533-0439
Leanne O NieforthCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0281-2072

Funding

University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal Connection n/aVA Sierra Nevada Health Care System n/a
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSuicide is widely recognized as an international health epidemic despite significant efforts for prevention. Various psychosocial factors can impact an individual's suicide risk. This scoping review explored the current literature on the impact of companion animals (i.e., pets) on suicidality.

methodsA scoping review was completed utilizing PRISMA guidelines and the PRISMA Scoping Review Extension to assess the scope of existing research on this topic. The extracted studies were reviewed by a team of research and mental health professionals to develop themes and clinical recommendations, ensuring a direct bridge from research findings to practical application.

resultsThe search yielded 1948 articles for title and abstract review, of which 64 were retained for full-text review, with 30 meeting the inclusion criteria. Included studies were reviewed by the research team, and data were extracted and discussed. Themes were identified as they relate to suicidality and summarized as representing protective factors against suicide, risk factors for suicide, unclear/inconclusive impact on suicidality, or no impact on suicidality.

conclusionThe results of this review provide insight into the complex ways in which pets can contribute to both protective and risk factors for suicidality. Understanding this impact can inform clinical practice and suicide prevention efforts.

Indexed as

companion animalshuman–animal interactionsmental healthpetssuicidalitysuicide

Identifiers

PMID41373284
PMCPMC12692484

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.