MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29234, 18 June 1960, Page 15

MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT

Importance Of Recreation Any progress made in the treating of mental illnesses would be made by slow and steady advances not by a blitz technique, the Deputy-Director of the. Division of Mental Hygiene (Dr. F. W. P. Mirams) told recreational officers of mental hospitals yesterday. Dr. Mirams was giving the final address of a four-day course for recreational officers from all parts of the country which had been held at the Sunnyside Hospital.

Public attitude towards mental illness wavered between a desire for a cure and a wish to have all mentally ill people locked up, he said.

With groups of long-standing patients there might not be a cure effected in the full sense of the word, but patients would be able to live a more useful and, normal life providing the community allowed them to adapt to a new existence.

Rehabilitated patients were not normally equipped to cope with hostility from the community. That was where recreational officers could play an important part With the enjphasis on patients joining in recreational pursuits they at least could have some common interest when they rejoined the community. “Your job is to co-ordinate and build on what is already there. Do not expect dramatic and sudden advances. Be satisfied with worth-while progress,” said Dr. Mirans.

The increasing use of recreational facilities for patients in mental hospitals was demonstrated during the course. Recreations that made people think and occupied their time were being expanded in hospitals, said the recreation officer for the Auckland Hospital (Mr J T Jackson).

An example of the work being done was a course of dancing for disturbed women patients. Mr J. L. Coughlan, recreation officer at Sunnyside Hospital, said the dances were explained to the patients, demonstrations were given and then the patients were encouraged to join in. The patients enjoyed the dancing, said Mr Coughlan. It gave them exercise, and learning the simple steps stimulated their thinking and reactions. The same principles applied to other forms of exercise.

The use of occupational therapy as part of the recreational pattern was explained by Miss J A. Walker, who is in charge of the therapy departments. Patients were given work in accord with the advice of the doctors. Most of the patients were short-term patients and the therapy was a part of their treatment.