WRONG TREATMENT

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 4

WRONG TREATMENT

Methods Employed In Cases Of Nervous Breakdown INDICTMENTOF PORIRUA (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special -Wellington Representative). _ That the treatment of a certain type of patient at the Porirua Mental Hospital is not all that can be desired is the allegation made by a correspondent to "KZ. Truth." He cites the case of a woman who is not insane, but who went to Porirua for restful treatment for a nervous breakdown. If his statements are justified, there is a clear-cut need of revision yin the methods employed m the treatment of such patients. Apparently individuals are not responsible; it is the system that is at fault. The new Minister of Health would be serving a very useful purpose if he conducted an inquiry into the regulations . governing- the conduct of the institution.

UT AM not alone m voicing an opinion 1 that drastic reforms are necessary, more especially m the treatment of patients suffering from temporary mental breakdown, brought about perhaps by over-work, worry, serious illness or, often, m the case of a woman, by natural causes at certain periods of life," says our correspondent. "My personal knowledge of a fewfacts concerning the institution was gained by regular visiting. A friend of mine had shattered her health nursing her three children through long and serious illnesses, i "This unfortunate mother was advised by the doctors who attended her to take a complete rest m one of the cottages at Porirua, where she would probably recover m about three months.

"After the regulation month had

passed, we were permitted to pay her a visit, and if I live to be a'hundred. I will never forget the impressions of that first visit. This woman, wno had always been so particular about her personal appearance, was dressed m an old, coarse, institution mgiitdress, with a huge safety-pin hoiding it together across her cnest. "The look of fear m her expression as she pointed straight out of the window to a row of tombstones nearly broke my heart. Can you imagine a more undesirable scene t for a woman suffering from nerves than the sight of rows of tombstones to gaze at day after day? "It needs a fast-growing hedge, imI mediately planted, to hide this cemetery from tne view of patients m this building, who are placed there to recover from nervous breakdown and shock. The general surroundings only make, them more depressed. "Another reform is urgently required, to remedy the placing together of women of all classes, ages and temperaments. Surely it would be possible to have accom- ■_ .

modation for about four to six wromeri patients m one roo m, all Classed according to the form their

illness has taken? I am speaking, strictly of cases where the doctor knows there is- every chance of the patient recovering, under proper treatment and congenial surroundings. "Women whose illnesses nave taken the form of extreme depression and who just lie about all day, are placed with others who are sometimes shouting, crying, and abusing one another. "One patient, whom I discovered later was a Borstal, prisoner, struck my friend across the face because she remonstrated with her about interfering with articles of clothing m a locker. . - . ' "On reporting the matter ito the superintendent, I was. told that it would not occur again, but on my next visit my friend said this same person had been terrifying her ever since with threats of what would happen if sho ever made any more complaints. "Why are Borstal prisoners^ placed with women whose only crime has been to shatter their health doing their duty to their children? "And why are the wishes of such women not studied as far as possible, in-order to cheer them up. They are sometimes refused little natural requests which only succeed m making them more depressed.

Shotting and Crying

, "As an instance, although my friend had several good nightdresses on entering the hospital, an old institution one was given her to put on instead of her own. Why?" . Judging from our correspondent's letter, a moderate, departure from the hard, cold rules of officialdom could be followed with beneficial results where women are merely nervous wrecks. The correspondent continues: — "A few days ago my friend said that when taken by the nurse to have a bath, the water was discolored and dirty, and she asked the' nurse could she have clean water to bath m? She was immediately told to get m unless she Wanted assisting m. This treatment only increased her depression instead of lifting it.

especially those likely to recover, as .if they were sick people—needing cheer and encouragement, instead of the general attitude adopted of treating tnem as prisoners, just needing watching and feeding. "What is required is surroundings and a system after the style of Hanraer, where patients can walk about among trees and shrubs and lawns instead* of a pocket handkerchief piece of lawn, with buildings on three sides and a picket fence on- the other. "The only time patients can get away from this depressing building is when taken for a walk m batches by a nurse. This system is. entirely wrong, for a sensitive woman feels she rs being paraded to public view unnecessarily and pointed out as a mental patient. "If a few small buildings were erected, with not more than six beds m each, and situated m fair-sized grounds, there is not the slightest doubt that such patients would recover more quickly. "Optimistic treatment and a little cheery banter would be worth a thousand times more than the methods employed m most instances. "Wiil not our new minister of health, or Dr. Gray, take up this important matter and carry out heedful reforms, to assist unf orttmate ■ sufferers who are unable to plead- for themselves?"

"On another occasion I found my friend fearfully sunburnt, and suffering intensely from' large water blisters over her face, neck, chest and arms. I asked the nurse m. charge how my friend got into such an awful condition. The nurse replied that when my friend's bed was taken outside m the sun, she refused to wear the hat given her, so they just let her burn. "My friend told me she refused \ to wear the institution hat with blue checks, because it classed her as a pauper, and' she asked the nurse to ring me up to bring out her own sun hat and a sunshade. This was not done."Generally, complaints are countered by the statement tiiat they are only patients' delusions, although I have taken pains to prove that m each instance mv friend's complaints were legitimate. "A nurse I ' had attending my friend, at home and who was once a probationer at the mental hospital, informed me there was need for reform m many directions, the nibst urgent being .to treat the patients,