I'd say my cat helps me a lot. Probably more than I realise.
Granted, I live with my Mum and my Grandad so they feed him but he's more attached to me than he is to either of them.
He helps me feel less lonely, which is a huge problem for me, so that's one plus. I can actually tell when he's pleased to see me, unlike most of my friends. He makes me laugh when he does crazy things. I can tell that he loves me, even though he's a cat and often likes to wander off and do his own thing.
Most of these qualities the people I know don't have. I have a greater bond with him than even my best friend.
There may be some people who are mentally ill that could not be able to look after a dog - but those that can shouldn't be denied the access of having one.
I think the biggest factor is that most people, if not all, with mental health problems feel incredibly lonely - having some kind of animal would surely prevent this.
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