MENTAL HOSPITALS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12146, 25 May 1925, Page 4

MENTAL HOSPITALS

FAR-REACHING REFORMS TREATMENT OF BORDERLAND CASES NO MORE OVERCROWDING Cabinet has approved several important and far-reaching reforms in the treatment and care of mental patients. Sir Maui Pomare, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, holds that when the proposed changes have been carried out, New Zealand will occupy a foremost place in the world iu regard to the treatment of mental cases—a similar position, to that which independent visiting medical men have agreed that the Dominion holds in respect to general health matters. Special attention is drawn by the Minister in his statement to the new and more humane system to be adopted in dealing with new or suspected cases of mental and nervous trouble. Lodgment in police cells or prison is to be done away with. S'pecial cottages, out of 6ight of the main mental hospitals, are to bo erected, in which incipient or suspected cases can be observed and treated. Outlining the various reforms, the Minister stated to a “Times” representative on Saturday: As the outcome of investigations and subsequent conferences it was decided to take action in order— PROPOSALS SUMMED UP (a) To promote prompt recognition of serious mental afflictions, and to encourage the adoption of suitable treatment in the early stages. (b) ensure the provision and use of improved methods of handling and dealing with mental patients, prior to and at the time of committal as insane, and to abolish temporary lodgment in prison pending decision. (c) To ensure the provision and better use of facilities for classification, care, and treatment, especially in the case of the more recent, impressionable, sensitive, and curable patients. (d) To improve provisions in the way of kitchens, laundries, etc. (e) To remove overcrowding. (f) To correct any outstanding defects of sanitation and ventilation. Tho policy decided upon includes:— Clinics will be established at the general hospitals and conducted by two medical men, one drawn from the general hospital and one from the mental hospital. It is intended that such clinics, to be known as “clinics for nervous affections” shall be held weekly—without any implication of insanity, mental breakdown, or so-called “borderline” trouble. This project was brought before the Wellington Hospital authorities early, in the year, and was most favourably and sympathetically, received, both by the board and by Dr Wilson, the medical superintendent. . . . Similar tentative overtures made in Auckland and Dunedin were received in the same spirit, and the Hospital Board for North Canterbury (centred in Christchurch) has expressed its willingness to co-oporate. ..... TREATMENT OF SUSPECTED CASES The safeguarding of persons alleged to be of unsound mind from the indignity, distress, and humiliation of being treated as delinquents or criminals, and, under present conditions, lodged, in prison pending decision as to their 6anity or insanity; and in the case of committal to a mental hospital, the ensuring of proper and humane lodgment, care, and treatment of the patient Until taken charge of by the mental authorities. Arrangements are under way for the provision of suitable rooms in general hospitals where mental patients can be properly cared for, pending medicolegal examination until their transfer to a mental hospital, if committed as insane, instead of their being kept temporarily in police quarters. In order to facilitate the provision and equipment of three bedrooms in each of the four centres, Cabinet has voted a sum of £2ooo—£soo for each of the general hospitals. I feel sure that the hospital boards will actively assist tho department in this. direction. Preventing new patients, as far as possible, from being brought within sight of the main asylum buildings or of tho- inmates, or into any . kind of contact or association with ordinary chronic patients until it has been ascertained by careful examination immediately on arrival, conducted at a simple, attractive, and home-like entry lodgo (out of sight of the asylum proper), that the particular patient is at the moment quite unsuitable for curative treatment at a seaside or other sanatorium, or in a special cottage or small villa on the asylum estate, and will not he harmed, at any rate, in the meantime, by association with chronic patients in a suitable ward of the central institution. In addition to such cottages or small villas as may now exist on the Mental Hospital estates, we are providing small, private, comfortable, homoliko and attractive buildings, capable of accommodating not more than twelve men or women, as the caso may be, on a sanatorium basis. BETTER DIETARY Systematic adjustment and improvement of diet to meet the varying requirements in mental hospitals. As great advances have been made in the science, practice, and economics of diet (especially as applied to feeding during infancy sfnd childhood, and the catering for armies and for persons boarded in schools, sanatoria, hospitals, etc.), it is gradually coming to be recognised that trained experts will have to be appointed in order to supervise and direct tho feeding of all hospital patients—whether the evidences of illhealth manifest themselves mainly on the bodily or on the mental side. In either caso—digestion and nutrition being almost invariably impaired— Biiitablo adjustment of food and feeding habits is a first essential, and must' be provided for. With this in view a professional dietitian has been appointed by the Mental Hospitals Department to organise, supervise, and direct, in conjunction with the In-spector-General, and the local medicaf superintendent, the feeding arrangements of all mental patients. As the removal of septic foci in the mouth is an important matter in connection with the treatment of mental diseases, a dental snrgeon has been appointed to the department; and whatever additional assistance is necessary will ho arranged for and supervised by the Director of Dental Hygiene (Mr T. A. Hunter). THERAPEUTIC SUGGESTION No competent asylum physician fails to niako good use of suggestion and

persuasion; but the public ought to know that, after a fair trial over a period of forty years by the most eminent specialists* 60-called “expert suggestion” and hypnosis have proved to be of little or no efficacy in the treatment and cure of the hereditary, pathological, organic, and toxic insanities, such as ordinarily come under treatment in mental hospitals for insanity or border-line conditions. However, with adequate provisions and facilities for proper classification, care and treatment of the insane such- as aro now being established, the public may rest assured that the doctors at the mental hospitals will leave no stone unturned to promote the recovery of their pa-tients-—including the use of any reasonable therapeutic suggestion . that may give an additional chance of success, however remote. OFFICERS TRANSFERRED In connection with the further organisation and development of the mental hospital service, the following transfers have been effected; Dr T. G. Gray, medical superintendent, Nelson, as medical superintendent, Avondale, vice Dr R. M. Beattie on 12 months' leave of absence. Dr H. E. Jeffrys, medical superintendent, Porirua, as medico) superindent, Nelson. Dr A. C. McKillop, medical superintendent, Seacliff, as medical superindent, Christchurch, vice Dr A. H. Crosby, retired after 28 years’ service. \ Dr H. M. Buchanan, medical superintendent, Hokitika, as medical superintendent, Seacliff. Dr Wfutton (of Oamaru) has been given temporary charge of the Hokitika Mental Hospital. Tii order to strengthen the medical staffff the authorities are obtaining tho services of two well-qualified mental hospital physicians from the Old CounSir Truby King has been given a practically/free hand to carry out the whole of tho programme.