MENTAL PATIENTS

Evening Star, Issue 19044, 12 September 1925, Page 21

MENTAL PATIENTS

IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDITIONS WORK AS A CUBE [Enow Due, Pablumentaet REPORirnd WELLINGTON, September 11. “Why were not the inmates or mental hospitals paid for the work they did in these institutes,” inquired Mr Sidcy (Dunedin South), when tho estimates for the mental hospitals depanmeiit were before the House. ‘ >' hy, even the prisoners in our gaols arc pam for their work,” said Mr Sidey. H.°" much more deserving are the unfortunate mentally incapacitated.’ “Work is - one of the greatest blessings they could have: gets them away from themselves,” said Mr Wittymember for Riccarton. He pressed loi better superannuation provisions lor mental hospital attendants, who vere born, not made,” for this unpleasant job, and ho repeated the assertion frequently made outside that these attendants are frequently obsessed by then jobs to such an extent that some ot them end up as patients themselves. _ The Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomaro), after deploring the loss to the service caused by the (death ot Ur Hay, referring to payment for work in the Government institutions, said that prisoners were in full possession of their faculties. Mr Masters (Stratford): Sometimes. Sir Maui; “Well, generally, though sometimes they may have ‘ brainstorms ’ like a member of Parliament. (Laughter.) However, comparisons between prisoners and mental patients aro not fair. Prisoners are paid, but they aro in prison for a limited time. It is hard to say how long patient:, will remain in mental hospitals. inen in mental hospitals work is part ex the euro. It is prescribed for patients, who are not made to work whether they like it or not; and on an average it takes nine patients to do tho work ot one ordinary man. How, then, are we to assess the value of this work?” “I am against Commissions, proceeded the Minister, “and I have always been against them. If you can reform our institutions from within it is far bettor than reforming them from without. (Hear, hoar.) It within the next six months our mental institutions have not been improved ‘ out of sight,’ you can have as many Royal Commissions as you like, but give us a chance to finish the job wo have embarked on first. After that_ you can have what Commission you like.” Sir Maui made the melancholy announcement that only 2 per cent, of patients were regarded as hopeful cases for recovery, but tho Government was going to give thorn the best treatment it was possible to obtain. Regarding overcrowding, the institutions were being divided into smaller wards, and there was better classification of patients. Sanatoria w'ere being provided for incipient cases, which would do away with the need for “ halfway houses.” Patients treated in these places would not have on them the stigma that they had been in a “halfway house.” Some of those convalescent homes had already either been built or acquired. Gratification at the reforms being put in hand was expressed by tho Leader of the Labor Party. Mr Lysnar _strongly urged tho Minister to provide a separate homo for doubtful mental patients, and the provision of a clinic in small centres, where there was no hospital to temporarily accommodate mental cases awaiting observation or transport. It was disgraceful that these people should have to lie dragged to a police station and bo locked up ia a cell overnight. Ho congratulated tho Minister on bis promise to revise the method of commitment and discharge.