ANXIETY IN LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 110, 11 May 1935, Page 6

ANXIETY IN LIFE

LORD ALLEN AND ITS EFFECTS

"The preventive, work of medical science in the sphere of mental wellbeing will d.o Wore to. protect democracy by giving us a nation of healthyminded' citizens than anything we politicians' can do tlirough the Statute Book," said Lord .Allen of Hurtwood, at a luncheon of the Institute of Medical Psychology, in London;' recently states ,the "Daily..Telegraph." :■' Modern.lifcj, with its increasing speed of development, and>its profound ecd--nomic distress, ..was "bearing hardly upon the human-, mind. - Anxiety was an all-peryadipg.characteristic of our time."; ■-.'■:'."' v-?. ■•',■;.«."■ ' ■■■ '■

It was^estimateci that one person out of every ; 13 was suffering from nervous maladjustment,' and/ one-third of the amount expended in health insurance benefits was necessitated by the troubles due to nerve strain or mistakes, in the- early training of our population.. .. -•'■'. .■'■• ; ' :•: .•■-.■■. • '■';

It was stated that poverty was the cause of nervous -maladjustment. Much of it was, but a lot of it was not "I belong to the House of ■ Lords," he added. "I have not seen any signs of economic distress there, but I think that all of us who occupy, seats in that House may be said to suffer from signs of mental maladjustment."

The medical profession was attaching far more-importance than ever before to the subject,of mental health, and it was probable that no develops ment during the, King's reign would deserve a higher place in order of importance, .than the .new attitude of medical science to mental health. "Dictators see the importance of the child," said Lord Allen. "Democrats must do the same.. .

"Liberty ,and compassion..'iri the art of government are being challenged throughout the world. Britain can help to lead, the lyorld-back.to democracy ■by. giving increasing attention to the mental health' of her ffutu're citizens."

Dr. J. R. Rees, medical director of the institute, said that he was glad to observe that those doctors who .devoted their lives to a study of medical psychology and to the alleviation of mental sickness by such methods were no "longer regarded: as cranks. ' ; "The 4 results of 500; cases referred, by the Courts to the institute were not so good as the proportion of 60 per cent, qf voluntary patients permanently relieved or cured. The man who came for treatment of his own free will; would certainly do better than the man who •regarded his treatment as part of his sentence from'the Court. " >■

Sir Henry Brackenbury, chairman of the'cbuncit speaking at the annual meeting, said that there was still a good deal, of lack of- understanding andjyant of appreciation of the institute's work, both among the medical profession and that section of the public interested in social welfare. "There is clearly room, especially in somevpopulous provincial centres,';for the establishment of -other institutes conducted .Upon our own lines," he continued, "but it may lead to some bewilderment of the public mind and some undesirable dissipation of effort if a number of organisationsl or clinics become established with closely analo-* gous if hot identical aims, within a limited area or appealing to approximately the same public for support. It is, a danger to: be watched."