WAR NEUROSIS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 132, 1 December 1945, Page 11

WAR NEUROSIS

IMPROVED METHODS URGED

The need for improved methods in the care of war neurosis cases is urged in the annual report of the Women's Service Guild.

"We are of opinion that failing the establishment of intermediate convalescent homes a most valuable addition to this curative work would be the opening of discharge or gate hostels where patients could spend the probationary period prior to returning to ordinary civilian life," states the report. "The control of such hostels could well be the responsibility of the Red Cross Society. Such work would indeed form a most valuable post-war activity. Civilian mental hospital patients could also derive great benefit from such a scheme. The executive is of opinion that these hostels would be most helpful in lowering the chronicity rate in custodial mental hospitals. "The guild, in a statement to the Select Parliamentary Committee on Local Body Government asked that boards, elected by the same democratic methods as hospital boards, should be appointed to control the administration of mental hospitals. When the report of the committee comes before Pariament we hope legislation will be enacted for the provision of boards such as we suggest. In our opinion the time is long overdue for the setting up of a Select Parliamentary Committee to review from every possible constructive and remedial angle the whole system of New Zealand's present mental hospitals. "Different suggestions regarding occupations for returned servicemen have been made to the Minister of Rehabilitation. In particular the guild asked that use should be made of suitable vessels released by the Navy to establish returned men in the fishing and trawling industry. It was suggested to the Minister that companies, modelled on the lines of cooperative dairy companies, be formed Such companies would enable men to organise for the purchase ot all necessary supplies and gear and also enable them to control the commercial side of the industry In this way the men would reap the full monetary reward of their work.