The human-animal relationship has been much studied over recent years, but little attention has been paid to the effects of the death of animals on people. Grief following the death of an animal can be significant, yet such reactions can be viewed by friends, families, professionals and society as abnormal. Problematic and complex grief in animal owners is rare, but it can be compounded by a lack of understanding from others.

For patients experiencing psychosis, family work is an effective and important intervention and it is recognised that two co-workers are needed for interventions to be successful. While the co-working relationship is identified as an essential factor in the effectiveness of family work, there is less detail available about developing and maintaining the co-working partnership, and the work required to do so. This article examines the co-working partnership, and discusses how to choose a co-worker and develop the relationship. It also explains how the principles of co-working can be used in other areas, such as early intervention teams.

Animals feature in many service users’ lives and can be significant factors in their wellbeing and recovery, but relationships with animals can also increase risks and mental health issues. Animals and the effect they have on people’s mental health are poorly researched and understood or taken into account in clinical practice. In the UK, mental health service providers, teams and individual workers, especially care co-ordinators, should recognise the significance of animals to their clients and the emotional bond between them.

Conversations, assessments and care plans with service users should include information about their animals, because it could prove useful in diagnosis and management. Understanding and assistance by the mental health worker in coping with the welfare of a client’s animal(s), and also the possible stresses and risks, can benefit the therapeutic relationship. Staff should be familiar with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and know how to contact animal welfare organisations.

Co-training can be an excellent experience for students and trainers alike, and can support increased learning. This article considers how co-training can be used in health and social care training classrooms. It explores the theory and practice of training with a colleague, which can appear to be an easy option but may in fact be much harder than training alone. By focusing on the relationship between individual trainers and joint training methodologies, the aim of the article is to share information that is useful to full-time trainers and to clinicians who undertake training as an occasional activity.

Little is understood about animal hoarding, but it is believed to occur in most communities (Patronek 1999). By the nature of its presentation and its association with mental illness, cases will come to the attention of mental health services. Animal hoarding is a complex issue and one that is not improved by simply removing the animals, because acquisition of more animals will often occur. The behaviour has significant effects on the individual concerned, their family members, animals and communities, with huge costs to services.

This article highlights the issue and recommends that legislation relating to humans and animals, as well as the roles of different agencies, needs to be understood by mental health practitioners.