Mental Health Of Children

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30714, 1 April 1965, Page 12

Mental Health Of Children

The director of the Mental Health Division (Dr. S. W. P. Mirams) finds a “ frightening indifference ” to the incidence of psychological maladjustments among children. He is not, unfortunately, able to give much guidance on what should be done to help the 10 per cent afflicted, beyond advocating better public education and greater public understanding of mental health troubles. Apparently it would be impossible to recruit, train, and employ enough psychologists to deal with this huge number of cases, though “one in 10 of our population “ requires some sort of professional help at some “ time in their lives ”. What, then, can be done? Probably many cases of mental illness, like many cases of physical illness, are tended with reasonably satisfactory results in their own homes. Most families would regard that as primarily their responsibility, though responsible parents would call in medical advice when that seemed needful. Some parents, of course, may attempt the impossible when their children would be better off under expert supervision; but possibly the chief trouble is the number of children whose maladjustments are not properly diagnosed and who live in a home environment lacking the emotional stability they need. Has too much damage been done by the time they reach school, or could better-trained teachers and special courses help them over most of their difficulties? The statements of Dr. Mirams and of Professor W. Ironside, of the department of psychological medicine at Otago University, on the same subject are so disturbing that they should answer some of the questions asked by a community that is “ indifferent ” only because it is uninformed. If the public knew how it could help these children it would surely not ignore their troubles.

Dr. Mirams says that many children may make satisfactory adjustments (through the love and care of their families and friends?) but he also agrees with Professor Ironside’s estimate that 13 per cent of university students have mental disorders. The higher rate suggests a difference in causes, but the universities have not shown themselves to be indifferent. Students are encouraged to make use of the university health services, and some form of counselling is provided. Beyond that, can the universities do much more than promote an awareness of student problems by the staff generally and by student organisations? Nevertheless, the mental health of so large a proportion of the student body should be a matter of more immediate concern to the university authorities than the theoretical optimum size of their institutions. They should be able to rely on help from Dr. Mirams and Professor Ironside in reviewing the situation.