MENTAL PATIENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 10

MENTAL PATIENTS.

ALLEGATION IN HOUSE. [From Orm Co*rm*ondwt.3 WELLINGTON, November 1. The presentation of the annual report of the Mental Hospitals Department gave Mr Lysnar an opportunity of repeating a former allegation that patients sometimes are kept in these institutions when they are entitled to discharge. He declared that three such cases had come under his notice, where he was instrumental in inducing the •.nodical superintendent to release patients whom he believed to be tholoughly sane. This allegation drew replies from a number of members, who pointed out the difficulties of laymen in deciding on a person’s sanity, especially where the patient suffered from a delusion and was otherwise apparently sane. It was suggested, however, that better provision for classification would dispose of many difficulties now experienced in this connection. The Hon C. J. Parr. Minister of Hospitals, suggested, in reply, that the discussion showed that there was satisfaction generally with the administration. If ho had more money he could effect greater reforms. New Zealand’s mental institutions could accommodate 3000 patients, but the present number was 3259. Buildings in course of completion would remove the cause of overcrowding. A male block was nearly complete at Tokanui. There was a three-storeyed extension at Auckland for women nearly complete. There was a large unit at Waitaki well advanced, and a reception house at Nelson nearly finished. At Hornby a house for what might be called half-way eases was being completed Apparently the member for Gisborne made no accusation against the bona fides of medical superintendents, but his suggestions were equivalent to an allegation of incompetence. Mr Lysnar: No. The Minister went on to say that last year there were 310 people discharged from mental hospitals, 164 of whom had been in institutions less than six months. IMMIGRANT PATIENTS. Direct admissions to mental hospitals last year numbered 873 (males 455, females 418), and included 11 immigrants who had been in the Dominion less than a year, and 12 New Zealanders returned from abroad within the same period, of whom three were soldiers. “ Save in exceptional cases,’' comments the head of th© Department, “ it may be taken for granted that persons able to pass muster on landing, but exhibiting or developing mental disease within a more or less short period thereafter, were either labouring under insanity in a form not readily recognised, or were predisposed to mental disorder when they arrived, and, being so, were in fact undesirable immigrants, though not coming within the legal definition or excluded. In eome countries om people under similar circumstances would be returned to their domicile, ami I think that this is r. matter in which the law should be made reciprocal.” IDIOT CHILDREN. 4 ‘ We are on the eve of reform, the necessity for which 1 have often drawn attention to, namely, segregation of idiot and imbecile children in a home institution apart from a mental hospital for adults,” states the Inspector-Gene-ral of Mental Hosopitals. “ This has , been rendered possible by an arrangement made with the Education Department to take over an institution at Stoke, near Nelson, and incorporate it with the Nelson Mental Hospital. I am looking forward before th© end of the year to remove practically all patients under fifteen years of age to Nelson, and so providing incidentally for 1 12 patients at institutions from which th© children will be transferred by the Education Department.' ’