Mars and Calm present their first joint collection

Mars has announced a partnership with Calm, a leading mental health company, to further focus on the well-being of pets. Together, they aim to help people recognise the role that daily interaction with pets plays in relaxation, life balance and overall mental wellbeing. The collaboration includes research into the human-animal relationship, including findings from an international YouGov survey of more than 30 000 pet owners in 20 markets.

The first campaign coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week and comes at a time when stress and anxiety are at record levels worldwide, according to Mars, a leading pet care businesses. Although people often instinctively feel that spending time with their pets is good for them, the study showed that they do not always realise the many ways in which this can improve their wellbeing. It also showed that pets give people permission to take better care of themselves, helping them to feel comfortable taking breaks that they might otherwise skip and making time for self-care. Nearly eight in ten (78 per cent) people say their pet reminds them to take a break from work, housework or other tasks. 50 per cent say this happens every day.

From 13 May, the first collection of free pet-inspired bedtime stories, meditations and mindfulness tools will be available on Calm to remind pet lovers to stop, be present and enjoy the simple moments of connection with their pets. The collection was developed in collaboration with researchers and scientists who study human-animal interaction.

This initiative builds on Mars' long-standing commitment to promoting pet well-being and exploring the mutual benefits of the pet-owner relationship. Earlier this year, Mars launched the Pets and Wellbeing Study Programme (Paws) – one of the world's largest research programmes investigating the impact of cats and dogs on human mental health and well-being.