Dogs provide therapeutic support to oil workers ahead of flights as part of Helipet initiative in Aberdeen

Dogs are giving offshore workers therapeutic support ahead of their flights as part of a new wellbeing initiative in Aberdeen.

Entitled Helipet, the project is designed to create a positive experience and reduce stress among frequent flyers.

The Canine Concern Scotland Trust said Helipets is the first scheme of its kind and incorporates all four heliport organisations in the Granite City.

One worker commented how the introduction of the dogs has made a real difference to the atmosphere, encouraging everyone to interact and have a laugh.

Carole Ledingham from Canine Concern Scotland told STV News: ”It’s well recognised that just stroking a dog or having a dog around reduces your blood pressure and I think particularly for the guys who are delayed for like three, four, five hours, you kind of run out of things to say.

“What this has done is they are now showing pictures of their own dogs to each other and that’s just broken the ice, so it’s lovely.”

Schemes like Helipets hope to help highlight how mental health impacts workers in the energy industry.

A white paper issued last year revealed 40% of workers experienced suicidal thoughts some or all the time while on duty and that offshore workers are 15 times more likely to take their own life than those onshore.

Michelle McCombie of Offshore Helicopter Services said: ”It’s great fun to see the dogs, it’s very socialise. But there is a serious message about improving physical and mental health. We hope they are a bit of a stress reliever and a conversation starter.”

With thousands of workers using Heliports on a weekly basis, the canine crew will visit the terminals once a week for two hours to interact with passengers.

The charity has a team of 32 volunteers who will enable the service to be carried out.