Mars and Calm team up for Mental Health Awareness Month
Almost eight in 10 (78%) people say their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, with 50% saying this happens daily – a gentle reminder to stop, breathe and reset
Mars, the pet care business behind brands pets and pet owners love including Royal Canin, Whiskas, Cesar, Banfield, Bluepearl, VCA and ANTECH, is partnering with Calm, a mental health company, to celebrate the wellbeing benefits of pets.
As a result, the duo have launched Mars x Calm Collection featuring Sleep Stories, Guided Meditations and Breathe Bubbles.
The collection is created for pet lovers, inspired by research into human-animal relationships, including findings from an international survey of over 30,000 pet owners across 20 markets, conducted by YouGov.
Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. and Mental Health Awareness Week in the U.K., the campaign comes at a time when global stress and anxiety are at record levels.
While people often instinctively feel a benefit from spending time with their pet, the research showed that they don’t always realise the multiple ways it may be supporting their wellbeing.
It also revealed that pets give people permission to take better care of themselves, helping them feel okay about taking breaks they might otherwise skip and making time for self-care.
For instance, almost eight in 10 (78%) people say their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, with 50% saying this happens daily – a reminder to stop, breathe and reset.
Sleep Stories is a series of heartwarming stories inspired by the emotional bond between people and their pets, including “Pets and Their People”.
Meanwhile, Guided Meditations feature a range of mindful sessions designed to help people pause, recharge and reflect on the gentle ways pets support mental wellness, including “Work Break Buddy with Chibs” and “Rest Like Your Pet with Mel.”
Lastly, Breathe Bubbles is a series of breathing exercises to help people pause, reset and take a deep breath amidst their busy lives. These have been designed to blend mindfulness with the warmth and comfort of pets.
Helen Mills, VP corporate affairs and sustainability, Global Petcare at Mars said: “We are excited to be partnering with Calm to make sure pets get the credit they deserve as our secret wellbeing superheroes. There is a mountain of evidence that the bond we share with our pets has a truly transformational impact on our wellbeing. We will be bringing that to life through content informed by what we have heard from thousands of pet owners across the world: that our relationship with our pets plays a unique role in rest, relaxation and overall wellbeing.”
Greg Justice, chief content officer at Calm, added: “Yet another reason to love our pets: the data shows they have a profound impact on mental health. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Mars, the global leader in pet care, to celebrate how pets enhance wellbeing for millions worldwide and to highlight diverse approaches to mental health support.
“Together, we’re helping more people – and their pets – experience the proven benefits of the human-animal bond through real stories, science-backed tools and supportive content.”
