Depression and anxiety is no joke. In fact, many people around the world are caged in a battle that no one can see.

It can be your friend, your spouse, a co-worker, or even your child that suffers depression and anxiety. They can mask their symptoms with laughter and smiles yet they are empty inside.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health:

“Men are less likely than women to recognize, talk about, and seek treatment for depression. Yet depression affects a large number of men.”

Both men and women suffer from depression and anxiety yet they have very different symptoms. Men may appear to be distant, angry, and even resentful. Sometimes, we often see this as an attitude problem instead of depression.

Men suffer from depression and anxiety too and they need help and support.

Rob Osman from Bristol, UK, wanted to address this problem. He wanted to make a change and in an effort to do so, he came up with an amazing idea.

He launched a dog walking group named “Dudes and Dogs.”

This dog walking group aims to help men who are battling depression or anxiety. He did this because he knows what these men are going through.

Rob is all too familiar with the hardships of having depression. He has suffered anxiety and depression for many years and he has tried many ways to combat this invisible battle.

Then, he realized that being outdoors while walking his dog had a great positive impact on his condition. He felt better.

We all know how dogs can be more than just our best friend, right? They can actually help reduce anxiety, stress, loneliness, and even depression.

According to Dudes & Dogs’ website:

“Dudes & Dogs is a Community Interest Group created with one simple premise. To get men out in the fresh air together for a walk and talk. We want men to understand that it’s not just okay to talk, it’s important.”

Having a friend who can be there for you, to listen to you, to make you feel that you are not alone will help a lot.

Being with your dog and walking outdoors will also make it a lot better.

In his 20’s, Rob lost his father. This had a major impact on his personality. He also said that he had suffered social anxiety since he was 10 years old.

Rob shared his story on his website. He said:

“I think I can consider myself one of the lucky ones in life. I had a good upbringing, fit and healthy, got an amazing family. I guess I fit into the ‘big jolly guy’ category. I hope I do, that’s nice. But yet, I’ve suffered a bit too. I broke my back which put paid to my hopes of playing at a decent level of cricket. I then had to have an operation a few years later when I thought everything was getting better and was reduced to living in my sisters windowless basement smoking far too much weed to care.”

Rob said that medication didn’t help him but Mali did.

Mali is none other than his beloved dog.

“She has helped me mentally and physically, her love is unwavering and no matter how you feel when you come home she instantly makes me happy,” Rob shared in his interview with Today.

That’s when it all started. Rob realized that walking your dog and being with people who understand has positive effects on men who are suffering from depression and anxiety.

“They need someone to listen,” Osman shared with Today. “The idea of using a dog gives people an hour away from the family and gets them out.”

His idea can help so many people and he is on the right track.

“I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do something to help people, just never quite sure what. I started to get a good idea of what it was and decided the place to start was a psychology and counseling degree with the OU,” Rob shared on his website.

Right now, his group Dudes & Dogs is still new and is still looking for ways to be better.

He’s considering looking into working with psychologists so he can build a solid foundation that will cater to men dealing with depression and anxiety.

“Dogs are like four-legged antidepressants,” Osman shared with Today.

His vision is that maybe, one day, he can share this program with the whole country and then with the United States as well.

We can help Rob and his program by sharing awareness of how to deal with depression and anxiety with the help of our beloved dogs.

Check out “Dudes & Dogs” and don’t forget to share!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Today, Dudes & Dogs Facebook, dudes_anddogs, Dudes & Dogs C.I.C, NIMH