“THE PROBLEM OF WAR NEUROSES”

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 7, 18 August 1945, Page 5

“THE PROBLEM OF WAR NEUROSES”

The rc-absorption of “wounded in mind” casualties into "civilian life” In what way can citizens help? First they can demand an active and practical approach to f lie solution of this major problem by insisting on the appointment of experienced psychiatrists to all selective lmards examining recruits to the armed services and bv ihe application of psychiatric knowledge tlie medical officers can weed out unstable recruits. In bis admirable survey entitled “Two vears of military nxvchiatry in the Middle Fast” Lieut>l. Craigie, R.A.M.C., tersely remarks about unstable recruits: “They were candidates for hospital treatment.” \gain, “Selection, then, should start before entry into the army; it should continue throughout trie stage of training; and it should apply particularly to all drafts for overseas service." Citizens should insist that the value of the psychiatrist in the active combat area, the base hospital clearing station, and finally at the stage of hoarding out of the army, should he adequately recognised. Th< value of the psvehiatrist in the forward fighting area is amply dimonstrated bv the number of shock cases he is able to

delicious birthday cake, provided by members, was cut by Mrs. Johnson, who also made it, and pieces were sent to all sick and absent members. Mrs. Andrew closed the meeting with prayer.

BLENHEIM MONTHLY DAY OF PRAYER Mrs. N. Forbes conducted the opening session and spoke of Frances Ridley Havergal, her life and work as a hymn writer, special mention being made of the consecration hymn, “ l ake my Life." Some very beautiful thoughts were expressed by the speaker. Mrs. F. Bythell followed with the next session and continued her address from last month’s meeting, her subject being "The Work of the Scripture Union throughout N.Z." In the afternoon, Mrs. Crow was the first speaker and her subject was “Bible, and Present-day Miracles.” The speaker for the closing session was Mrs. A. Lear, who told of the life and customs of the people of India among whom she and her husband worked in the mission field for a number of years. Well-known hymns were sung, all joining in whole-heartedly. Fervent prayers were offered. Attendance good. The organist was Mrs. F. Leslie, and the pianist, Mrs. A. Milgrew These meetings, held on the last Friday of the month, have met a real need in the community. Originally begun as a war effort, all the mission fields of tliy world are now included in the subjects for intercession, as well as local needs. It is strongly felt that it should be continued even on the close of the war.

return to combat duty after a few <htys treatment.

'lbe question of hospitalisation of “wounded in mind” casualties is most important. In his report on “a social experiment in psychiatric medicine," I)r. I). K. Sands poses this question: “To what extent can mental hospital services, at present largely organised to meet the maintenance needs of an abundance of chronic patients, be adjusted to secure the confidence of the early recoverable patients, so that this confidence would lead to their early treatment and lessen the incidence of chronicity?” Dr. Sands discusses the need for psychiatrists able to use comprehensive schemes of treatment, including psychotherapy, insulin comas, modified insulin therapy, continuous sleep, electrically induced fits, etc., and combinations of the foregoing according to the requirements of the individual patient. He also comments favourably on the good results obtained at the Sutton psychiatric ward in Sussex. Citizens should endeavour to ascertain whether it w'ould not be possible to commit only cases suffering from suicidal, homicidal, sexual mania or violent anti-social tendencies to the custodial care of general mental hospitals. They should enquire as to the possibility of establishing psychiatric

curative centres on lines similar to the Sutton psychiatric wards in England which have proved so successful. Citizens should urge the control of custodial mental hospitals by boards elected at the same time and by the same franchise as Public Hospital Boards.

Lor the period of transition from hospitals to real life suggestions based < »ii the annual report (1942) of the Cassel Hospital for Functional Nervous Disorders would f»e most helpful. In this report Dr. C. H. Rogerson suggests “ \n intermediate type of hostel or hospital largely run by the patients, supervised by a trained nurse and with only occasional medical supervision, because such a place would be principally concerned with occupation and recreation as a step towards the outer world.” This report stresses the ini|iortance of co-operation with vocational advisers and the value of a sympathetic attitude on the part of employers. Citizens, whilst recognising that the numerical aspect of the neuroses problem in New Zealand will not be as large as m countries with larger populations will realise the necessity for classification and getting the recoverable cases back to civilian life by the most pleasant and helpful ways possible. Representations could be made to have the intermediate hostels or sanatoria placed under the control of the N.Z. Red Cross Society. Right throughout the whole gamut of hospitalisation of our “wounded in mind” casualties from custodial mental hospitals to sanatoria, citizens should regard it as their bounden duty to see that all the amenities of a good home are provided: comfortable sleeping accommodation, reasonable privacy, hot and cold showers and baths, a good standard of clothing, properly served appetising, nourishing food with plenty of fruit, vegetables and milk, various indoor and outdoor recreation and occupational facilities, and above all a constant recognition on the part of those persons charged with the care of these cases “that these patients have been wounded in their country’s service and all that can be done to help them is but a pitifully inadequate recognition of the debt we owe to them for the preservation of our liberty and country."

C itizens should strive to realise what these wounded men and women have sacrificed. In our custodial mental hospitals are patients wTio served in the 1914-1918 war —a generation sacrificed their country. Surely the very least citizens can do is to insist that they are deprived of no alleviation, comfort or amenity it is j»ossihle to afford to them. In short, citizens must insist that our custodial mental hospitals and sanatoria measure up to the high standard so admirably expressed hy a writer in the British Medical Journal, 13/11/42: “A psychia’ric hospital is no longer simply an asylum’ or retreat; it is a ffiospitar in the ancient sense—a guest house for those ultimatelv on their way back to real life."