Is Indoor Mold Affecting Your Mental Health?

-Canine Mold Company Raises Awareness About Detrimental Mold Impact for Sept National
Suicide Prevention Month-

HOBE SOUND, Fla., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When 65-year-old Anita Marie Cheske of Englewood, Florida started developing rashes and swollen arms and wrists last fall, she immediately thought that it was due to poison ivy or bug bites. After all, the former operating room nurse had seen every type of ailment during her 40+ years in the healthcare industry. As the skin breakouts continued to spread to her head and legs, she then started experiencing insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, dizziness and headaches. When fevers, muscle twitching, and body pain began, Cheske knew that the cause of her physical and mental discomfort was a darker issue. In fact, through a home inspection, she realized that her house was infested with toxic black mold. Now, nearly a year later, Cheske is still displaced from her home and has been to countless physicians' and mental health providers trying to alleviate her problems to no avail. She feels like giving up on life entirely and admits to thoughts of suicide. According to Zaneta Kuzel, founder of Mold Hunt, a canine mold detection company in Florida, Cheske is not alone in her debilitating situation and reaction to toxic mold exposure. The female entrepreneur is raising awareness about the detrimental effects of mold outbreaks on a person's mental health for September National Suicide Prevention Month. 

Unfortunately mold toxicity can present a variety of nebulous symptoms and most practitioners, do not include it as part of their testing diagnosis," said Zaneta Kuzel, founder and owner of Mold Hunt, LLC. "When a person is continually sick from mold, feelings of hopelessness and despair set in, and that's when their mental health is in serious danger."

In fact, a 2007 study conducted by the National Institute of Health followed thousands of people living in dark, moldy homes and found a direct correlation between mold toxins and depression, which often manifested as inability to sleep and lack of appetite (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2072855/). The study concluded that even with minimal and moderate mold exposure, there remains a statistically significant 28–34% higher risk of depression. The results were so compelling that they were published in the American Journal of Public Health. Flash forward twelve years later and another study by the National Institute of Health in 2019 proved the existence of mold-induced neurological problems (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231651/).

Kuzel describes the vast array of symptoms caused by mold toxicity, including chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, histamine intolerance, irritable bowel and leaky gut syndrome, multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammation, muscle weakness, aches and ice pick pains, headache, light sensitivity, red eyes, blurred vision, tearing, sinus problems, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, diarrhea, joint pain, memory and concentration issues, word recollection issues, confusion, disorientation, mood swings, appetite wings, memory issues, temperature regulation problems, excessive thirst, increased urination, static shocks, numbness, tingling and vertigo.

For Cheske, her path to physical and mental wellness has been a lengthy and disruptive journey. Besides moving out of her Englewood home, she has been treating the parasites and mold in her cells with herbals and supplements, as well as following a mold eliminator diet with histamine. She also uses a vibrational plate and regular massage to cleanse and move the mold toxins throughout her lymphatic system and has invested in a portable sauna and water filtration system. Additionally, she must undergo frequent blood and urine tests to detect specific mycotoxins and heavy metals.

"The physical and mental suffering due to neurotoxicity in my brain and mold in my bloodstream has come in various forms throughout these past eight months, and all symptoms have been managed by expensive treatments," said Cheske. "I hope that my Englewood home can one day be beautiful and inhabitable again."

Kuzel relates a similar story with mold contamination. After having a full home inspection before purchasing her 30-year-old house in Hobe Sound, FL, Kuzel was excited to start her new life. Within two weeks of moving in, Kuzel began to notice difficulty breathing and frequent coughing. As her condition worsened, she went to the ER, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia, which lasted a month, wreaking havoc on her mental state. She discovered that hidden mold was lurking behind the walls in every room of her house. 

"Being that sick was shocking since I have a healthy, organic lifestyle and took all of the necessary precautions by getting a proper home inspection," said Kuzel. "I realized how invisible and dangerous mold can be and knew that there had to be a better way to detect it and help others avoid what I went through."

During her recovery Kuzel discovered that dogs could be trained to detect mold and the idea stuck to bring this revolutionary offering to Southeastern Florida, where wet, damp and humid conditions prevail. She now uses a black Labrador Retriever named Indy to sniff out all forms of mold, including Aspergillis (blue green), Cladosporium (olive green) and the toxic Stachybotrys (black mold), and provide visual cues to let Kuzel know the exact location of the infestation. He is one of only a handful of highly specialized mold dogs in the U.S.

"Black labs are notorious for their keen sense of smell and calm temperament, and Indy is energetic and focused about his work, passionate around people and always eager to earn treats for a job well done."

The Mold Hunt detection process lasts approximately one hour and consists of a thorough walkthrough of the property both inside and outside. Kuzel then gathers information about the client's potential mold-related issues, noting any health changes in different rooms. Indy is then brought into the house to lead the inspection, sniffing out mold behind walls, in air ducts, under floors and other areas invisible to the human eye. When mold is detected, Indy alerts Kuzel by sitting down and pointing to the exact source of mold with his nose. Once the alert is confirmed, he receives a food reward and praise. The entire process is quick and more than 90% accurate.

Cheske, who recently met Indy in the community, admits that she wishes his services were available last year when her home was invaded by black mold. "When I felt a nudge on my thigh, I looked down and saw this beautiful, smart and protective dog that I know is helping to free the region of mold and make the world a better place."

For more information, visit www.moldhunt.com or call 858-MOLD-DOG.

ABOUT MOLD HUNT
Mold Hunt, LLC is a professional canine mold detection service for homes, businesses and personal property in the Southeastern Florida region. With their intense training and keen sense of smell, mold-sniffing dogs achieve a more than 90% accuracy rate and offer a fast, thorough non-invasive, and cost-effective review for safer living and recreational spaces. Mold Hunt is one of only a few canine mold companies operating in the U.S. For more information, visit: www.moldhunt.com or @mold_hunt on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

PHOTO: Indy, a black Labrador Retriever, has been trained to sniff out all forms of mold with owner Zaneta Kuzel at Mold Hunt, a comprehensive, canine mold detection service for homes, businesses and personal property, which offers accurate precision, cost-savings and healthy living.

SOURCE Mold Hunt