Student Health Service Praised

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 7

Student Health Service Praised

The University of Canterbury health service compared more than favourably with other services in Australia, Dr G, M. Gray, medical officer in the university’s service at Ham, said this week.

Recently returned from the biennial conference of the Australia and New Zealand Student Health Association in Melbourne, he said the rapid changes in modern life and society had brought many new, different and increasing pressures upon the young. “All of us are seeking to improve our effectiveness and value to the university and to the student body,” Dr Gray said. The theme of the conference was student wastage. It was believed, he said, that the health services had a contribution to make in some cases, preventively and salvage. “Valuable discussions of the substantial incidence of emotional and adjustment pro-

biems to which young people, like their parents before them are subject, were held,” he said.

Papers at the conference included one on the young motorist in which the association of alcohol with death and injury on the roads was discussed with Dr J. Birrell, of Melbourne.

“This was of special interest because two student deaths have occurred here in a period of six months.” Dr Gray said. “The problems of alcoholism and drugs were also discussed fully. “So far as health services are aware the drug problem, as distinct from alcohol, among students is not nearly so great as newspaper and other statements would lead the public to infer. "This is not to gainsay the potential for harm of drugs.” he said. “The overwhelming majority of university students appear to be so normal as to have no need of drugs.”