Lonely, and unable to cope

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 22

Lonely, and unable to cope

Socially maladjusted people in Christchurch are not receiving the help and treatment they require because of gaps in the city’s hospital and welfare services. Those with social problems continue to “do the rounds” city’s major caring institutions because their problems are never solved at any one of them, the Anglican City Missioner, the Rev M. J. Goodall, said yesterday. Periods in an institution, psychiatric hospital, or prison seemed to lead to further difficulties, unless the person had support from his family. Although finding no fault with existing services, Mr Goodall said there is a need for community services far beyond what is supplied at jresent. The psychiatric services

within the hospital system are no longer providing "refuge” for the people who can be described as “social problems,” he said. He suggested, to meet the problem, an accessible psychiatric unit which social workers involved with “noncoping” families and individuals could consult, and the kind of hostel that could provide moral support and shelter for thc.se having difficulties with relationships, and having poor work records. A joint working committee of the Health and Social Welfare departments, hospital boards, probation officers and representatives of voluntary agencies could be set up to develop a policy to deal with the sitution, he said. It might involve increased, staff in some areas and subsidies for preventative and * rehabilitative work by! voluntary agencies. “There is a significant I

proportion in our community who are lonely, inadequate and unable to cope. They are often described as suffering from ‘personality disorders.’ This group appear regularly in our courts, our hospitals and most welfare agencies. i BROKEN FAMILIES I “Their disturbance and in- ’ ability to cope are most often found as a result of inadequate or broken family life, and indications are that this trend could increase. “The point has been!

reached when it is a com- - munity responsibility to set . right priorities, and such a > move can no longer be ielayed. “We have agreed, or at 'least acquiesced, to have a (second TV channel while finance for urgent welfare iprojects is still limited. "We accept a burgeoning ’tourist industry which seems to cheapen our culture and distort the life of our people, while family life is under continued stress. Such ! priorities determine the (quality of our living.”