WEBVTT

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- Hey, she's in--
- Paige is a four-year old

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yellow Labrador Retriever
who loves a good scratch.

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- Such a good girl.
- Paige also loves

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tagging along with Dr. Stephanie Grant,

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the 144th Fighter Wing's
Director of Psychological Health

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as a facility therapy dog.

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- We know from the research

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that therapy dogs are
excellent at mitigating stress,

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at mitigating depression
symptoms and anxiety.

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She does a great job at that.

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- [George] Paige also helps
with developing relationships

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between Airmen and mental
health providers like Dr. Grant.

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- I see that in the organization
there's still some stigma

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with people wanting to reach out for help,

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but with Paige it really
just breaks down that stigma.

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You get to see a dog and
she's nice and she's fun

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and she's super sweet, and so I think

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that's really helped Dr. Grant get access

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to areas where people do need help

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and it's just helps break that stigma down

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and it kind of gets rid of it.

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- [George] For one Airman at the 144th,

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the time she's spent with
Paige actually led her

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to take the first steps
to making an appointment

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with Dr. Grant.

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- I think everybody at some point needs

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to sometimes to talk to someone.

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Paige was actually the
reason that I felt able

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to reach out to Dr. Grant

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because I'd seen Paige around base

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and because of Paige I was
able to make that connection.

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- [George] Dr. Grant
stresses the importance

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of Paige's role in creating
bonds with individuals

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to help them receive
the support they need.

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- She has just been a
valuable tool to really build

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those relationships, because we know

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relationships are key, right?

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When things start going south

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and people start experiencing
more symptoms of depression

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or anxiety and really
needing that extra support,

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when you've already
developed that relationship

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and that rapport, it goes a long ways

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with them seeking help early.

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- [George] Staff Sergeant George
Solis, Fresno, California.