MENTAL BREAKDOWN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5234, 3 February 1928, Page 4

MENTAL BREAKDOWN.

MUND RUINED BY FEARS.

UNNECESSARY ANXIETY.

“ The sudden flaring up of acute mental disorder is often only the terminal manifestation of a long process of slow combustion, smouldering during a period of years*. Before the established state appears the primary cause may have long ceased to be obvious; only its effecas are apparent in the developed conditions.” This is one of the conclusions reraehed by a s,ub-committee of the National Council for Mental, Hygiene, Lonldon, whose fourth, annual report ip out. Dr. W. A. Potts was chairman off the committee, and the view is exhresSeid that in every case of mental disorder there are antecedent happenings no one of which, is the cause, but all of wihich contribute. A last straw may be blamed as the exciting factor, but often wrongly, because it might be; the lightest straw- of. the whole bundle. The manifestations of mental d’sorder in childhood are pioteana-nd liable to be falsely attributed to physical causes- The help of the psychotherapist may be -required to dsal with such troubles of children as persistent day-dreaming, inattentiveness at school, apparent stupidity, headache, stammering, persistent and apparently inexplicable contrariness night terrors, St. Vitus’s dance, cruel, vindictive, and cr'minal tendencies, and many ether -conditions. Full responsibility is attained at 21,

when there is a demand also for concentration on the life’s york, which ■should be so chosen as to give expression to the innate capacity. Many mental breakdowns occur when the prospect of marriage is imminent. In the forties increased’ responsibilities make heavier demands, while about fifty there is a marked crisis for women, and for some men. Those who pass any stage, without responding properly to the demands* naturally made upon them eater the next with a heavy handicap. Unless some satisfactory treatment is available the handicap becomes greater and greater until a breakdown is inevitable. As Professor Robertson has shown, the incidence of certifiable mental disorder begins, at 15 and rapidly increases with advancing years. Fear of life, as. he* says, is a great factor in mental disease. It is the fear, and not the conduct of life, that is the dangerous factor, for although the incidence oif certifiable mental disiorder increases for a time as age advances thei incidence- is much less among' the' married than the unmarried, a fact suggesting the inference that accepting all the 'responsibilities of life may be the healthiest course*. It is possible that some of the factors which eventually produce mental disorder are the Same as these which prevent the individual from assuming thei responsibilities of married life. LATER LIFE OF WOMEN. Mental disturbances In women 'about fifty are due largely to unnecessary anxiety ; many women expert to be ill at that time, and are not disappointed. It is a- mistake for .women at the climacteiric td look, upon (their lives as finished, and to imagine that impassable barriers are closing down on them. They should, above all, realise that they are more free than ever before to lejad active, -vigorous; lives, taking their place, as mothers of. the world rather than as, mothers of n. family. Sixty-five U> the age at which many men are put on the retired list, and mental disorder in the late period of life majy be largely due to lack of interest in life. The maai who gives up his life 'of work without having developed or maintained interest sufficient to give a real meaning to life runs a. risk, especially if he ex; pects others to do -for . him work which he ought to do for himself for many yeara longer.

Education is the njiost important method of dealing wi|';h drinking to excess.. All possible n leans must be takers to prevent the . excessive consumpt'ioni of alcohol, aring in mind that occasional alcoho', lie excess, or even, the regular takiiig of alcohol, may be the sign of soma psychological difficulty requiring skil led investigation and, treatment. It is not however, only instruction in the value of. temperance that is required, but education in the whole conduct of life. Taking: alcohol is often the e asiest way -of escaping temporarily fi’Om the, ordeal of life, the necessary ’adjustment for, which the drinker' wrili not, or does' .not, know how to e'ffect.

In the past the role of heredity as a factor ifi producing mental disorder has beein exaggerated; While recognising the great importance of. heredity, much harm is dome by unjustifiable fear. The mistake may be made of concluding that an. abnormal condit’jon is in inherited, rwhen more important 'factors. are at- work, such aa frtulty feeding during!’, pregnancy or am unwise upbringing. In some cases I;he dangerous factor is not so much the hereditary link as "the constant dread. The; eugenic as.pect of this . problem however is very important. In doub.tful cases, therefore, .advice should be sought from some qualified authority in regard to the 1 question of •marriage. '