THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 4

THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Sir,—While the public heart- is rightly stirred on behalf of the orphans, may I also plead for a little more sympathfor mental sufferers. I have had more than a taste of physical pain, bat mental anguish, fear and despair, nerve shock, and strain, are incomparably worsen Juji outside our circle of coiniortable, happy homes is an institution where a thousand mental patients are immured, most ofthem for life out of sight, out of mind. Recently I saw that a separate institution for the criminally insane was proposed. If this goes beyond mere talk, it will be the m&st important, and urgent reform yet attempted. He harmless, and these form the bulk of the \ahole &&' then receive proper consideration, and the undeserved stigma of being a meats), patient will be lightened or removed. There should also be a separate sard for the obscene. Some of these fallen creatures are inconceivably so, night and day. To pass to pleasanter topics, I am snie that many patients would like to ccaveT ■ .their hearty thanks to the preacheaand 1 singers who conduct services, and to the kind and clever visitors who entertah them fortnightly. But much more might be done in the way of open-air sports and games. When the patients on noh" days muster in the padaock I nevttn-' . member to have 6een any and this relaxation might be far more ftV quent with benefit to all concerned. VPhen fruit is plentiful I think more would be sent to Avondale if people realised. 1 the stateness of the diet. They would also send literature if they : saw the eagerness with which, the stalest of books and papers are read. ',' Ex-PAHECT.