Counselling Services Readily Available

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 14

Counselling Services Readily Available

Lifeline counsellors have an up-to-date list of available counselling services, and family doctors are aware of local resources in this matter, says the psychiatric physician for the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr J. R. E. Dobson) in reply to a correspondent, M. S. Starky, ofAmberley, who asks in a letter to the editor of “The Press” whether people know where to go for special help. The correspondent writes: “Every time I read accounts of cases of criminal violence, I think that criminal was a person who was afraid or ashamed to seek the help of a psychiatrist: or that criminal had sought such help and had been made to feel shame for needing it.’ How paradoxical that psychiatrists, who are supposed to specialise in dispelling needless feelings of guilt and shame, are themselves the source erf such feelings in their patients. They could well give thought to finding ways of improving their public image, and combating the flood of siek humour about their patients. In Wellington, a booklet has been published listing all the counselling services available in that city. I would be interested to know if such a booklet is available, or contemplated, here, so that people know where to go for the special help they need before society has to cage them.” [Mr Dobson replies: “It is unfortunately true that prejudice against members of the community suffering from psychological disability still exists. Psychiatrists consider they are most useful when occupied treating patients. In New Zealand all trained psychiatrists are more than fully occupied, if not overwhelmed by their case load. They look to members of the community who have been helped by them, to Mental

Health Associations, service clubs and the churches for help with the educational tasks mentioned by your correspondent. The booklet describing social services in Canterbury is now out-of-date, but family doctors make it their business to be informed about local resources. Lifeline counsellors have available an up-to-date list."]