Asahi Shimbun Morning Edition, December 11, 1999
Nurses, in particular, are always close to their patients. Doctors often rely on them for assistance. The reality of Japan’s medical system, which heavily depends on nurses and other healthcare professionals, is no laughing matter.
Psychiatry, which should require the most emotional connection with patients, has a legal provision allowing only one-third of the number of doctors per patient compared to general medicine. This is one of the biggest issues in Japan’s mental health administration, which lags behind the rest of the world.
That said, even doctors who act high and mighty in hospitals are nearly powerless without the support of many medical professionals.
Recently, more people have been visiting psychiatric clinics after losing their pets. This is known as "pet loss syndrome."
The appeal of the highly acclaimed films Babe (1995) and Babe: Pig in the City (1998) was not just the clever tricks of a pig performing the role of a sheepdog. The films also depicted the contrast between foolish humans who view animals as inferior and compassionate humans who see them as fellow creatures sharing the Earth. This fresh perspective set them apart from typical films that merely anthropomorphize animals.
Animal therapy, which involves allowing patients with dementia, depression, and other conditions to interact with pets, has recently gained attention. Pets can provide companionship to ease loneliness, and their glimpses of wild instincts help people maintain a sense of natural balance within themselves. There have even been reports of individuals recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while caring for injured pets.
Pets are not beings of absolute obedience. There may be times when a pet dog bites its owner, but unlike humans, pets reset their relationships the next day, which is part of their charm.
A woman suffering from insomnia once shared her experience of living with three cats. She said she cuddles with them and speaks in "cat language" because "unlike a lover, a cat never lies or betrays."
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