MENTAL HEALTH TO BE SUBJECT OF CONGRESS IN LONDON NEXT YEAR

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1947, Page 6

MENTAL HEALTH TO BE SUBJECT OF CONGRESS IN LONDON NEXT YEAR

F.A. WELLINGTON, May 21. An international congress on mental health is to be held in London during August, 1948. It will be attended by representatives of many nations, states the honorary secretary of the New Zealand National Council for Mental Hygiene, Doctor A. R. Falconer, of Dunedin, who has received the programme of subjects to be discussed by the conference. Dr Falconer says that the congress will consist of three separate conferences —one of child psychiatry (under the auspices of the International Committee for Child Psychiatry), one on medical psychotherapy (under the auspices of the International Federation for Medical Psychoterapy), and one on mental hygiene (under the auspices of the International Committee for Mental Hygiene with its incorporated and allied bodies). The first two conferences are .intended primarily for medical and similarly qualified people, and that for mental hygiene for both technical and non-technical workers. Representatives will be invited from those countries eligible to join the World Health Organisation. A declaration of a draft constitution for this organisation was made at a conference in New York in 1946, representative of fifty-one States. The aim of next year’s congress is to translate into action principles laid down by the World Health Organisation, and to give an opportunity to workers of every nation in the mental health field to make whatever contribution lies in their power to an understanding of causes leading up to war and its prevention, the greatest task before mankind today. Special subjects for discussion will be “Foundations of Mental Health in Childhood” and "Mental Health and World Citizenship.” Dr. J. R. Rees, Director of Tavistock Clinic, London, is chairman of the organising committee for the congress. Dr Rees, who formerly was in charge of treatment of British Army neurosis cases, has requested Dr Falconer to attempt to form groups to assist in preparatory study of those parts of the programme in which New Zealand may be particularly interested, and also to sponsor a national delegation to the congress. Dr Falconer said that the congress was or great importance, and New Zealand should be fully represented He invites organisations interested to communicate with him.