The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th, 1925. MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th, 1925. MENTAL HOSPITALS.

A NVMHKit of important am! Par-reach ing reforms in tho treatment and care of mental patients have lieen ■ decided on by Sir M. I’omare. Minister in Charge of .M ental Hospitals and been approved hy Cabinet, ft is considered hy the Minister that when these advanced steps are completed, N’ew /calami will occupy the lore most place in toe world in dealing with mental cases, .similar to the position to that which independent visiting medical men have agreed that it holds in respect to general health matters. Special attention is drawn hy tho .Minister, in a statement, to the new and more humane system to he adopted in dealing with new or suspected cases of mental and nervous trouble. C. id foment in police cells or prison is to lie done away with. Specia 1 cottages out of sight of main mental hospitals are to he erected iu which incipient or suspected cases can he chserevd and treated. Following is the outline of reforms: (a) To promote the prompt recognition of serious mental affections and to encourage the adoption of

suitable treatment in the early stages, (b) To ensure provision and use of improved methods of handling and dealing with mental patients, prior to and at tho time of commital as insane. and to abolish temporary lodgment in prison pending the decision. (c) To ensure provision and a better use of facilities for classification, care and treatment, especially in the cu.-e of more recent impressionable sensitive and curable patients, (d) To improve the provisions in the way of kitchens. laundries etc. (c> To overcome overcrowding, (f) To correct any outstanding defects of sanitation and ventilation. The reforms indicated appear to he in a general way on the lines coalmen, ed at the Hokitika ."Mental Hospital under the direction of Or. Buchanan, till lately in charge of the local institution. No doubt had there been the facilities here, the work would have been more advanced than it is and on lines which would have been a lead for other parts of the Dominion. Here with the obsolete buildings and defective arrangements the Superintendent had to make a commencement. There is no doubt that working on the humanitarian lines which were designed. reforms of real value to the unfortunate patients were brought about. In the reorganisation proposed hy the Minister, who. it is understood. is prompted hy Sir Trilby King in the matter, the work in regard to the patients is to he more in a personal than a group way. Each case must lie considered hy itself, because ailments, or tile cause of them, arise from differing effects. The personal touch must go a gryat way in ensuring the betterment of the patients. It is necessary to have their confidence so that they may respond to treatment.

Tilt* herding of the patients is not good, for with some recalcitrant eases, alarm is taken easily, and nine there is fear aroused, the confidence oi’ the ] atient is lost, and it is more difficult to hope for success with treatment which is not appreciated in itself as for tin benefit of the patient. No doubt the handling of the patients is a first con-

sideration. and this is necessary at all stages. The classification of the patients is another matter of the great-.--importance, and there must lie separation for the impressionable patients, or those in an impressionable condition. Environment becomes a matter lor special consideration, and the more open space, and freedom in reason which can be afforded, the better will be the response. Cures may not conic quickly, or at. all in some instances, hut with freer intercourse and more humane treatment generally there may Ik- such marked improvement that the care of patients will heroine less exacting. Their bodily health should certainly improve, and if that is built up. under careful handling the mental condition may he retrieved also -perhaps to a material degree. Iho mental hospitals contain many sad tases, but the suggested reforms give hope for the future. Locally the reorganisation of tin- institution has produced outstanding re-nils which must he a satisfa tinn ail round. The time is past when the patient entering the institution is a mere member. The patient is human and the plight ol the patient 'alb lor humane treatment from tin* outset . This there i-s the promise now to do generally throughout the IVmiinion institutions which is indeed satisfactry.