Psychiatric Services

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 3

Psychiatric Services

Sir, —With his suggestion that psychiatric costs be reduced by appointing itinerant therapists your correspondent, “Paul,” has opened new vistas of economy Applying the principle in other fields we find the National Orchestra disbanded, its members issued with fiddles and sent forth as wandering minstrels, T.A.B officials donning the bag and paying us a visit on Saturdays, tax collectors having a chat over the petunias. Returning to sanity, we find that mental disturbances are sometimes caused by the desire to conform to scriptural exhortations, ‘‘Cast your bread upon the waters.” etc., conflicting with a desire to conserve cash. A period of travel is sometimes beneficial, as travellers have been known to pass from a state of ignorance and confusion to one of enlightenment. A classic example occurred on the road to Damascus. —Yours, etc.. R. J. CRANE. May 1, 1957. Sir,—“Paul” thinks that patients should have the cause of their mental trouble fully explained to them and. if they reject the advice given, the Government should wash their hands of them. Well, this suggestion certainly has the merit of simplicity, and the many Government departments HMponalble for the care of such people would be

very happy if it could be acted upon. “Paul” could try it himself, and I think he would tire of the performance long before the patient. At Hanmer they have an average of about three months to restorfe the patient to better physical health, treat, discipline, and re-educate them, and I am prepared to go on record, any place, any time, to say that they do a grand job. They get these cases in their early stages, and put back into circulation hundreds whose future must otherwise have been very doubtful.— Yours, etc., C.H.C. May 1, 1957.

Sir, —It is the crass ignorance of people like “Paul,” expressed in words like his, that has sent to despairing self-destruction many victims who, ill, yet organically sound, and knowing their case to be unarguable and incapable of proof, have preferred death to further persecution from such as he. In his ignorance he persistently stigmatises nervous illness as stemming from “uncontrolled emotions,” whereas among sufferers from this trouble are some of the most controlled of people. Possibly this is due to too much self-control. Who knows? Steam will find a vent, so why not strain? If “Paul” wants to invoke scripture, let him ponder the injunction, “Judge not that ye be not judged”; also. ‘‘With what measure ye judge it shall be meted to you’’—or similar words. Abuse of Government institutions is not unknown; but the remedy is investigation, not their abolition. —Yours, etc.. GRATEFUL. May 1, 1957.