Research highlights the legal issues of certifying emotional support animals
Service animals are recognized by the ADA as those whose training helps them serve a specific disability-related function. However, people not necessarily exhibiting a mental or physical disability are eluding the system by asking their mental health professionals to certify 'emotional support animals'. Researchers are exploring the effects these requests are having on the mental health profession and recommend that psychologists refrain from issuing certifications to avoid legal risks. Ref. Source 7a.
I know some people who do need their pets for emotional support and can't be without them for very long. But it's seem a risky emotional investment as pets don't live very long. But some people with serious mental illness like BPD might have a pet as part of their mental health plan.
I think this should be a thing for certain cases. Animals really do help someone who is depressed and can really change their whole train of thought.
I have seen how much a pet makes a difference in a person's life, and while there might need to be stricter rules on such emotional support pets I do think have a place in helping people cope in dealing with mental illness. Especially in public and around others, whether depression, anxiety, or other issues.
Yes, there are people who abuse the system as a way of keeping their pet with them where they'd otherwise need to be left behind, as people have abused the food stamps services and other such things, but that doesn't change the fact some people actually so need such emotional support and service animals in general.