Mental Health And Law To Be Studied By Group

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 6

Mental Health And Law To Be Studied By Group

The law as it affects the mentally ill will be studied by the Canterbury Association for Mental Health. This Is announced by the president of the association (Mr C. T. Ford), in his annual report, which will be presented at the first anniversary of the association next week. Those who have accepted seats on the study group are Professor H. R. Gray, Miss Heather Melville, Professor H. E. Field, Dr. Peter Cook, Dr. B. M. Barraclough, the Rev. P. Goddard, Mr P. H. T. Alpers, and the president, the report said. “Besides creating an organisation to increase the knowledge of mental hygiene, and to work for the welfare of the mentally ill, the Canterbury Association for Mental Health has brought the whole question of mental illness into the open as a subject for public discussion, has helped to break down long-standing prejudices, and has stimulated much interest in our mental health services,” Mr Ford says. “The coming year is World; Mental Health year, and this association. together with those in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, will aim to make the public of New Zealand more aware of the needs in this field Vast strides have been made in the last two decades in overseas countries, so there are sound, reasons for cautious optimism.” The report says that steps have been taken to set up a professional advisory committee, and a study group on the law affecting the mentally ill. A further study group will be set up to discuss the subject of help with

the cost to the individual of psychiatric seryices and psychotherapy. Those invited to serve on the professional advisory committee for two years were: the president of the association. Professor Alan Crowther (University of Canterbury psychology department), Professor H. E. Field (University of Canterbury education department), the Rev. Malcolm Wilson and Brother John (representing the churches). Dr. W. M. Platts (general practitioners), Dr. M. H. Aitken, Dr. J. Ballin. Dr. M. Bevan Brown, Dr. Peter Cook, and Dr. H. D. Livingstone (psychiatrists). Dr. J. D. Hunter (Mental Hygiene Division), and Mr P. H. T. Alpers (honorary solicitor).

The report says that the association has discussed with Dr. Hunter and Miss Burrell (psychiatric social worker) how it can help with the after care of mental hospital patients. Members will be asked whether they will undertake to entertain groups of three or four patients who are potential candidates for leave or discharge. An attempt will also be made to find a limited number of homes that might be approved by the Mental Hygiene Division to offer board to patients going out into the community again during their rehabilitation and after their discharge. “There is a big need to use our efforts to educate the community in helpful attitudes toward those who have been mentally ill. People do not understand, and fear mental illness. Things they do not understand, they fear,” the report says. Permission has been granted for a group of five or six from the new executive to visit Sunnyside and Templeton, and inquiries have been made about what provision exists for psychiatric patients at Christchurch Hospital, the report says. The executive says it regrets that Mr D. C. McKechnie who. by his enthusiasm and interest, contributed so much in the formation stages of the association, has found it necessary for personal reasons to relinquish the office of secretary.