News and Notes
- Author:
Dr Kenneth Soddy
The National Association for Mental Health announces with great regret the resignation of Dr Kenneth Soddy? who has been its Medical Director since the beginning of 1946?on his appointment as Assistant Physician in the Department of Psychological Medicine, University College Hospital.
As the first Medical Director of the three amalgamated bodies constituting the National Association, Dr Soddy has given invaluable service in making its work known throughout the country and in establishing contacts with Government Departments, Local Authorities and professional groups. His lectures to audiences of varied types?professional and lay?have been received with much appreciation and their success has demonstrated how eagerly authoritative information on Mental Health subjects is sought.
Dr Soddy’s interest in Child Guidance is well known, and it is a matter for satisfaction that his appointment by the North-Western Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board as Psychiatrist to the Child Guidance Training Centre, ensures the continuance of his close connection with its work. We are also very glad to be able to record that he hopes to keep in touch with the National Association and will be ready to help in a voluntary capacity when the opportunity arises.
We know that the readers of this journal will join with us, and with the many friends he has made during his term of office with the Association, in wishing him every success in his new work.
We would add, as another news item of particular interest to our readers, that Dr Roger Tredgold, the journal’s Editor, has also been given an appointment at University College Hospital, as Assistant Physician in the Department of Psychological Medicine.
Other Rccent Appointments Professor D. R. MacCalman
Professor MacCalman is leaving Aberdeen, where he has held the chair of Mental Health for the last two years, to take up an appointment as Nuffield Professor of Psychiatry at Leeds University. Dr MacCalman was at one time general secretary of the Child Guidance Council, and was the first medical director of the Notre Dame Child Guidance Clinic, Glasgow.
Dr Kathleen B. Cobb
A Fellowship in Paediatric Psychiatric at the Colorado Psychopathic Hospital (University of Colorado) has been awarded to Dr Kathleen Cobb for one year from July 1st, 1948. Dr Cobb, who in 1941 was awarded a Fellowship in Child Psychiatry by the Child Guidance Council in Britain, spent the year 1946-7 in the United States with a Girton Scholarship and a grant from the American Medical Research Council for Psychiatric Studies. Additional financial help provided by the Commonwealth Fund through the American National Committee for Mental Hygiene in August, 1947, enabled her to spend another three months at psychiatric centres in the West and Middle-West.
Obituary
Colonel Jacob Waley Cohen We have to record with deep regret the death on July 21st of Colonel Jacob Waley Cohen, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., who was one of the original members of the late National Council for Mental Hygiene. During the whole period of its existence, he served as a member of Committee and throughout maintained a keen interest in its work. Despite the many calls upon his time owing to the large amount of other public work which he undertook, he could always be relied upon for help and advice, and his loss will be deeply felt. The Association offers its sincere sympathy to his relatives and friends in their bereavement.
Courses and Lectures organized by the National Association for Mental Health
For Workers in Occupation Centres and ” School’* Departments of Institutions
The 1948-9 Training Course begins on September 7th. The number of students so far enrolled still leaves vacancies, and later applications can be considered. In view of the increasing demand for Supervisors for Occupation Centres due to the fact that in their plans for carrying out their duties under the new Mental Health Service many Local Health Authorities include the development of existing Centres or the opening of new ones, it is urgent to increase the supply of trained personnel and the Association is making every effort to secure further recruits. Particulars of the Course (which lasts one year) will gladly be supplied by the Education Secretary, 39 Queen Anne Street, W.l. A Refresher Course is being held by the Association from August 28th to September 4th, 1948, at the Daneshill Training College, near Retford. An unexpectedly large number of students have enrolled although the Course was arranged at short notice due to the unexpected offer of accommodation.
For Staffs of Children’’s Homes
At the request of the Home Office a Refresher Course for Workers in Children’s Homes is being held in London from October 4th to 29th, 1948. The general subject of the Course is ” The Care of Deprived Children ” and in addition to lectures, there will be ample opportunity for discussion both in Groups and by individual students with the tutor and lecturers. Visits of Observation will include a Children’s Hospital, Child Guidance Clinic, and the Juvenile Department of an Employment Exchange.
For Transferred Relieving Officers
The second of these Courses, held in London, ended on May 28th and the report of the Tutor (Miss M. K. Sykes) refers to the keenness of the students in absorbing new knowledge and particularly in coming into touch with what was described by them as ” the new approach ” to Mental Health problems. The fact that the majority of the students had already been appointed as duly Authorized Officers and were not therefore in a state of anxiety as to their future, contributed appreciably to the success of the Course and a particularly happy atmosphere prevailed throughout, despite an overcrowded lecture room due to delay in structural alterations at the Child Guidance Training Centre’s premises in Osnaburgh Street, where the lectures were given. The Third Course, held in Liverpool in conjunction with the Extra-Mural Department of the University which took a large share of responsibility including the provision of premises?ended on June 25th. The number of students, owing to unforeseen contingencies, was small but this was possibly a factor which contributed to the success of the Course and the friendly atmosphere noted by the Tutor (Miss V. M. Voller). It is hoped to hold a Fourth Course in the late autumn ?probably in London.
Public Lectures
The National Association is arranging to hold courses of Eight Weekly Lecture-Discussions at Bournemouth and Hastings next autumn on the main theme of ‘’ Frustration and Fulfilment in Adult Life “. The Bournemouth course, which is being organized in conjunction with the Bournemouth Association for Mental Health, will commence on October 20th, at 7.45 p.m., and continue on successive Wednesdays, ending December 8th. The Hastings course will be run on successive Thursdays, at 7.30 p.m., commencing October 21st. The titles of the lectures are as follows:
Understanding Human Nature.
The Unmarried Woman.
The Married Woman.
The Married and Unmarried Man.
The Family Unit.
Frustration and Fulfilment in Work.
Growing Old Gracefully.
Freedom, Discipline and Responsibility.
The speakers will include: Dr Mary Capes, Dr. H. V. Dicks, Dr Isaac Frost, Dr J. A. Hadfield, Dr. Laura Hutton, Dr Nora Johns, Dr Alan Maberly, David Mace, Esq., M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D., Dr Doris Odium, and Dr R. F. Tredgold. Tickets for the Course, ?1 each, and copies of the printed syllabus may be obtained on application to the Secretary, Public Relations Department, Maurice Craig House, 39 Queen Anne Street, London, W.l. Single tickets (as far as accommodation permits), 3s. 6d. each, will be available at the Hall before each lecture. The University College of Hull (Department of Adult Education), in conjunction with the National Association for Mental Health, will be holding a course of Ten Weekly Lecture-Discussions at University College, Cottingham Road, Hull, on successive Wednesdays, at 7.30 p.m., commencing October 6th. The main theme of the course is ” The Family and Problems of Mental Health and Happiness The title of the lectures are as follows :
1. The emotional development of the child during the Nursery Years. 2. Adjustment in School Life. 3. Sexual Difficulties in Adolescence. 4. Helping your child to choose a career. 5. Happiness in Work. 6. The Psychology of the use of Leisure. 7. Ideals and Reality in Marriage. 8. What the Wife can contribute to Marriage. 9. What the Husband can contribute to Marriage. 10. The Contribution of Age to Youth.
The speakers will include: Dr Jean Biggar, Dr H. Edelston, Dr Isaac Frost, C. H. Jackson, Esq., M.A., Ph.D., W. S. Porteous, M.A., B.Ed., Joan Wynn-Reeves, Ph.D., Dr Winifred Rushforth, Dr J. H. Sheldon, Dr Kenneth Soddy, and G. Westbv, Esq., M.A. In response to requests, a course of Ten Lectures on The Individual and his Emotions, held at Hull in 1947, will be repeated at York, on Tuesdays, at 7.30 p.m., from October 5th, under the auspices of the ExtraMural Department, Hull University, in conjunction with York Educational Settlement and the National Association for Mental Health. The syllabus is as follows:
The Baby. Dr Mary Burbury.
The Toddler.
The Nursery Years. ? ?
4. The Parents’ Contribution. Dr Irene Turgel, M.D. 5. The Middle Years of Childhood. Edna Johns, B.A., Dip.Ed. 6. Adolescence. Dr J. Valentine. 7. The Adult and the Community. G. Westby, Esq., M.A. 8. Marriage Rev. H. Guntrip, B.A., B.D. 9. Celibacy. Dr H. Edelston. 10. Old Age and our Society. Dr J. ^. Affleck.
In conjunction with the Workers’ Educational Association, arrangements are being made to hold a peries of eight lectures, under the general heading of ” The art of Living”, at Reading on successive Thursdays, beginning October 7th and ending November 25th, and the Windsor Mental Health Association are planning a series of four public lectures on Tuesdays in October. Further particulars of the above courses, and copies of the syllabus may be obtained from the Public Relations Dept., N.A.M.H., 39 Queen Anne Street, London, W.l. The Birmingham and Midland Branch of the National Association for Mental Health will be holding a course of six lectures on “The Adolescent and the Modern World ” on Wednesdays, at 6 p.m., commencing October 13th, 1948. The subjects to be discussed are as follows:
Youth in Industry.
Youth on the Land.
Vocational Guidance.
Student Health and Selection.
Youth and Leisure.
6. What Youth can contribute to the Community. The speakers will include: Dr R. H. Bolton, Dr. F. M. Earle, A. T. Flynn, Esq., Miss I. E. P. Menzies, M.A., and T. W. Rumsby, M.A. Further particulars may be had on application to the hon. Secretary, T. Jefferson Cottrell, Esq., 29a Fredeiick Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15.
National Assistance Act, 1948 Now that this Act has come into operation, parents of mentally defective or other seriously handicapped boys and girls over 16 who are unemployable, are entitled to receive an allowance in respect of them without reference to the income of the family as a whole. It may be remembered that during the Committee on the Bill, the Minister of National Insurance in a discussion on Clause 7 (Aggregation of Requirements and Resources) said:
” So far as those who are crippled or menially defective are concerned, the view we have taken is that we should not impose any income limit or say that where an income is beyond that limit, it is the parents’1 duty to keep this poor child.’’’’
This is good news for many parents struggling with economic difficulties occasioned by the presence in the family of someone too handicapped to be able to earn, but it will necessitate?in the cases where the handicap is due to mental deficiency?close co-operation between the Officers of the National Assistance Board and the Local Health Authority if the most effective use is to be made of the provision?particularly as normally grants of the kind will be made as a matter of routine, through the Post Office.
We understand that the Board is fully aware of this necessity and that it is also alive to the dangers inherent in making more or less permanent money grants to mentally handicapped persons who are subnormal in intelligence (though not certifiably defective) or who are psychoneurotic or of the mentally unstable type. Every effort, we are assured, will be made to see that the importance of attempts at rehabilitation is borne in mind by the Board’s Officers in dealing with such cases, and close co-operation with Disablement Resettlement Officers is contemplated.
Under the new Act (Section 22), for all residential accommodation provided by Local Authorities,?e.g. for persons who are aged or infirm though not suffering from ” illness “?a charge of One Guinea per week must be made. Where the total weekly income of the person concerned is less than 26s., application must be made to the National Assistance Board for this amount plus 5s. a week allowed for personal requirements. Payment will be arranged direct to the applicant, usually through the Post Office. This provision also applies to persons placed by Local Authorities in Homes run by Voluntary Organizations, but does not affect arrangements made under the National Health Service Act for treatment in hospitals.
In a Circular of June 30th, issued to Local Authorities by the Assistance Board, on the subject of “Reception Centres for Persons without a Settled Way of Living,” it is stated that the Re-Establishment Centres provided for under Section 16 of the new Act, cannot be set up at the present time and before attempting to start them, the Board is of the opinion that further study is required on the extent of the need for such Centres and the type of rehabilitation which should be attempted in them. With the two existing voluntary Hostels for rehabilitating young wayfarers?at Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, and at Ferryhill, Co. Durham, the Board has made arrangements for their receiving suitable cases.
Mental Deficiency Administration
A Circular (No. 111/48), dated June 28th, has been issued by the Ministry of Health drawing the attention of Local Health Authorities to certain changes in the Revised Mental Deficiency Regulations now in force, most of which are consequential on amendments to the Mental Deficiency Acts made by the National Health Service Act.
The Circular also instructs Authorities on the new procedure in connection with defectives ordered to be sent to Institutions now under the control of the Regional Hospital Boards. For the time being, they are informed, they should continue to apply direct for vacancies in the institutions formerly used by them, and only if they are unsuccessful should application be made to the Regional Hospital Board who will consider ” what arrangements can be made to facilitate the allocation of vacancies “. For expenses of ” Place of Safety ” cases, the Boards will be responsible, and Authorities will receive from them a list of the places which may be used for this purpose.
A further change to be noted is that Local Authorities will no longer be asked by the Board of Control for reports on the home circumstances of defectives in institutions when discharge is being considered, but where there is no social worker employed by the Institution concerned, it is hoped that some satisfactory arrangement may be made for co-operation with Hospital Management Committees in connection with home visits. As treatment in all institutions covered by the term ” hospital ” will now be given free of cost to the patient as part of the National Health Service, Local Authorities are precluded from calling upon parents or guardians to contribute towards the expense of maintaining defectives in institutions and Sections 13 and 14 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, are repealed. It should be noted that the term ” Certified Institution ” is now reserved for places run for profit or with private (paying) beds.
For the expenses of defectives under Guardianship, the Local Authorities continue to be responsible. A new Regulation provides that such cases shall be visited at least once a year by a medical practitioner experienced in menial deficiency. Ordinary medical and dental services are arranged through the National Health Service.
In connection with the notification to Local Authorities of defectives placed privately in single care, under Section 51 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, it is satisfactory that the Board express the hope that Authorities will in future arrange for periodical visiting, although this is not a statutory obligation under the present law.
Voluntary Associations for Mental Welfare
A glance at the inside front cover of this issue will reveal one of the changes brought about by the ” appointed day ” on which the National Health Service Act came into force. But the absence of the names of many familiar Associations need not be taken to mean that the work which they have carried on for so many years has come to an end.
In the majority of areas with the taking over by the Local Health Authority of the statutory work for defectives formerly entrusted to the Associations, provision has also been made for the continuance of the service they have always given in voluntary cases, e.g. mental defectives not ” subject to be dealt with ” and mentally subnormal or unbalanced individuals not certifiable under any Act. With the wider powers given to statutory bodies under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, no restriction need in future be placed in their developing this type of service. It is moreover satisfactory to know that the great majority of members of the staffs formerly employed by Local Associations has been transferred to the Health Authorities and that their experience and unique knowledge of the Mental Health field will thus continue to be available.
The assimilation of so many voluntary bodies cannot, however, take place without something of great value being lost to the community, and all the more it becomes important that the National Association develops its own regional activities so that new voluntary societies are formed not primarily with the object of helping individual cases, but in order to stimulate and educate public opinion so that the whole country may become alive to the need for mental health services and that some intelligent grasp of their scope and purpose may be acquired.
A Guide to the Mental Health Service
The attention of our readers is drawn to a very useful booklet, ” Provisions relating to the Mental Health Services ” originally issued by the Ministry of Health for the use of Local Authorities and now made available through H.M. Stationery Office (price 9d.).
It is designed ” to explain the changes in the organization of the Mental Health Services and the effect of the amending provisions of the National Health Service Act upon the already complicated provisions of the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts and the Mental Deficiency Acts
The tortuous maze into which the provisions for the new Mental Health service have thrown pre-existing legislation is not one which can be penetrated without the closest study and concentration. But no one wishing henceforward to embark on such a journey should attempt it without this indispensable little guide. Handicapped Children. Some Statistics In Chapter VI of the Report of the Ministry of Education for 1947?the first issued since 1939?some interesting statistics are given dealing with handicapped pupils.
The following figures relate to the three groups of children which particularly concern workers in the mental health field: Percentages or Estimated No. per 1,000 Ascertained Numbers. Registered Numbers. Pupils. Epileptic 1,000 0-2 1,709 Educationally Subnormal 500,000 10% 38,377 Maladjusted 50,000 about 1% 5,795 The reader is, however, cautioned against drawing inferences from these figures, as ascertainment rates vary so widely from area to area showing differences in standards adopted, as well as in the machinery used. The lack of adequate provision for certain types of handicap is also a factor in the thoroughness with which ascertainment is carried out.
During 1946, additional accommodation was made available for 400 educationally subnormal children in five new Special Schools (one residential) and for 139 maladjusted children in five new Schools (four residential). One new Boarding Home for 22 educationally subnormal children and two new Homes for 50 maladjusted children, were also opened.
As a result of a series of regional conferences held by officers of the Ministry with groups of local education authorities, it is expected that adequate provision for all categories of handicapped children will, in future, be planned on a regional basis. The willingness of authorities to co-operate in this way with each other, is noted with satisfaction.
For the Welfare of Epileptics Larks Hill Convalescent Home, Fairwarp This Home, in a beautiful part of Ashdown Forest, was opened by the National Association for Mental Health on March 31st, and up to the time of writing, bookings have been made for approximately 69 patients in parties of 9 at a time.
It was originally intended to take men and women in separate parties but force of circumstances led the Committee to agree to mix the sexes, and the arrangement has proved to be an exceptionally happy one.
The Home is becoming known to hospitals all over England and Wales, although the large majority of patients have so far come from London and the Home Counties. The maximum stay is four weeks. The fees are ?3 3s. a week, but these can be reduced if absolutely necessary, if it is quite impossible for this amountv to be raised.
The patients received are all recovering from illnesses of various kinds. So far only three applications have had to be refused on grounds of (a) mental deficiency, (b) mental instability and (c) advanced pregnancy. Three patients have had to be returned home before the end of their stay, two because of aggressive and disturbing behaviour and one because of the development of acute and constant fits.
Arrangements are being made to receive a few longterm patients during the winter months, and applications for these vacancies should be addressed to the Secretary, Homes and Hostels Department, N.A.M.H., 39 Queen Anne Street, London, W.l.
A Birmingham Project for Epileptics
An interesting new venture has been originated in Birmingham arising out of a letter to the local press on the need for a special Clinic for Epileptics, signed by Miss Mona Thomas (a nurse and herself suffering from epilepsy), Mr. H. Halstead (Vocational Psychologist, All Saints’ Psychiatric Clinic, Birmingham), Mr. T. G. Rankin (Psychiatric Social Worker, N.A.M.H. Regional Office), and two industrial medical officers. In answer to this letter, 104 epileptics wrote of their difficulties and offered help, whilst other cases were notified by the Midland Nerve Hospital, and the Labour Exchange, resulting in a total of 300 names.
The aim of the proposed Clinic is social adjustment through individual treatment and careful assessment of each patient’s fitness for employment in factories, in sheltered industry or at home. Cases are being investigated by Miss Mona Thomas herself and by the National Association’s Regional social workers, and when necessary arrangements are made for examination at All Saints’ Clinic by a psychiatrist and a vocational psychologist.
Meanwhile other preliminary steps have been taken. The Regional Hospitals Board have been approached with the request that they should sponsor a special clinic for epileptics. The Warwickshire Agricultural Committee has agreed to employ suitable epileptics for harvesting and have been supplied with 22 names. Lastly, by special request of the patients themselves, a project is in hand for the opening of a Club on the premises of All Saints’ Clinic.
This is a striking example of the part which can be played by voluntary enterprise in promoting services for the welfare of handicapped members of the community.
Letchworth Mental Health Discussion Group A group of people who had attended several courses of lectures on psychology felt the need for further study and formed a discussion group whose aims are “The promotion of mental health through the dissemination of knowledge and the extension of preventive and curati ve social services
The members are county councillors, teachers in nursery, elementary and progressive schools, parents, and social workers, all of whom are actively engaged in matching theory to practice.
Up to date there have been four monthly meetings, and new ideas for future discussions, activities and projects arise spontaneously in the easy informal atmosphere of the nursery school where meetings are held, so different from that of the lecture hall. The membership is 25 with an average attendance of 17.
At the first meeting, Miss McCall, the Regional Psychiatric Social Worker, spoke about the International Congress on Mental Health, and a plan was drawn up to study various aspects of ‘’ The Family in relation to the Community “.
Subsequent meetings have dealt with : (a) Some research work by a group of psychiatric social workers into their own reactions and experiences on becoming mothers themselves. (b) A study and analysis of a county council survey on the need and desire for nursery schools in Letchworth.
(c) A talk by Mr. P. A. Barons on his work with difficult evacuees and delinquent boys, in association with David Wills of the ” Barns Experiment The matron of a mental hospital will lead the next discussion on ” The Psychological Effects of Hospitalization, Medical and Dental Treatment, etc. in Infancy and Childhood ” and the following points are suggested for research during the summer holidays : 1. Preparation of patient by parent, doctor and/or nurse.
Child’s reactions to hospital, staff, etc.
3. Parent’s reactions to child’s illness; influence on child of parent’s attitude. 4. Awareness on the part of hospital staff, etc., of emotional needs of child and parent. Instances where the psychological implications were understood and suggestions as to what might be done.
Regional Hospital Boards
The following is a complete list of the present addresses of Regional Hospital Boards throughout the country, which may be found useful for reference : Region Address Newcastle (Area 1) ” Dunira”, Osborne Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Leeds (Area 2) 29-31 Eastgate, Leeds. Sheffield (Area 3) Fulwood House, Old Fulwood Road, Sheffield. East Anglian (Area 4) 117 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. North-West Metropolitan^ (Area 5) North-East Metropolitan Soffi Metropolitan ,!>lla P?”la”d W1(Area 7) South-West Metropolitan | (Area 8) Oxford (Area 9) 43 Banbury Road, Oxford. South-Western (Area 10) 6 Elton Road, Bristol 8. Wales (Area 11) Westminster House (2nd Floor), 95-97 St. Mary’s Street, Cardiff. Birmingham (Area 12) 10 Augustus Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Manchester (Area 13) Room 6, 3rd Floor, Sunlight House, Quay Street, Manchester 3. Liverpool (Area 14) Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool 12. A list of the districts comprising each Area is given in the National Health Service (Determination of Regional Hospital Areas) Order, which may be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, price 3d. post free. (Reference: Statutory Rules and Orders, 1946, No. 2158.) The National Mental Health Act, U.S.A., 1946 The purpose of this Act?which is an amendment of a general Act covering a National Public Health Service? is:
” the improvement of the mental health of the people of the United States through the conducting of researches, investigations, experiments and demonstrations relating to the cause, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.’’’’ The Act provides for the establishment of a National Research Institute in the vicinity of Washington, which will be comprehensive in scope and in personnel, and on which an expenditure of approximately ?2,000,000 has been authorized.
In addition to this central research project, the Act authorizes federal grants to individual States, and ‘each State has been invited to submit a plan for Mental Health activities for which money is required. Grants will also be made to individuals, colleges or hospitals for research projects and for training of personnel. The majority of States have now applied for grants and the Federal Government is prepared to give every help in assisting them to carry out their programmes. There is, however, no power by which a State can be compelled to take advantage of the provisions of the Act or to initiate any particular reform. The scope and nature of the projects decided upon is entirely a matter for the State itself to decide. There is, therefore, wide scope for the operation of voluntary effort in educating public opinion and in stimulating new enterprise.
The American National Committee for Mental Hygiene has not been slow in taking advantage of the opportunities opened up to it in this direction. For the last two years it has conducted an experiment in vocational re-training of patients discharged from mental hospitals, in order that the practical routine may be available to all the States operating the new Act. In addition, the Committee is conducting an investigation in a number of States for the purpose of evaluating the work carried out by them, as a guide for the formulation of future programmes.
We hope to give further news of developments resulting from the new Act in a later issue.
N.A.M.H. Homes The Hill Nursery, Westerham This Nursery for maladjusted children, lately moved from Pewsey, Wilts, has been temporarily closed, owing to technical difficulties in the way of its continued recognition by the Ministry of Education as a ” Boarding Home The future of the Nursery is under discussion at the time of writing, but it is hoped that it may be re-organized and re-opened at a later date, in view of the useful experimental work achieved in it, and the undoubted demand for its services.
St. Paul’s House, St. Leonards-on-Seci During the war years St. Paul’s House was one of the Emergency Homes for mentally defective children for which the Association made itself responsible. It has now received the approval of the Minister of Health as an Approved Home for 35 trainable mental defectives (14 boys and 21 girls) under the age of 16. Cases are received from any area at a charge of two and a half guineas per week, and although at present the Home is full, applications for the waiting-list can be considered. These should be addressed to the Secretary, Homes and Hostels Department, N.A.M.H., 39 Queen Anne Street, London, W.l.
Joint Committee for the Study of the Cinema
The National Association for Mental Health has recently formed with the British Film Academy a Joint Committee for the study of the Cinema. It includes also representatives of British Documentary, the National Association of Girls’ Clubs and Mixed Clubs, Film Exhibitors, and various technical experts serving in a private capacity. The work of the Committee is at present of an exploratory nature. An enquiry has been made concerning research which is being done on the psychological effect of films on children under 16, and a memorandum containing recommendations on the subject has been drawn up and submitted to the Committee on Children and the Cinema, appointed by the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Ministry of Education.
The Committee also has under consideration the publication of a book with contributions by experts, on the psychological aspects of the cinema. The National Association’s Film Visiting SubCommittee, many of whose members also serve on the Joint Committee, will continue in being, but its activities will be confined to viewing and reporting on films, especially on those with a predominantly psychological interest.
Travels Abroad
The Editor recently was able to visit North Italy and Hungary, where he was invited to speak in Venice, Verona and Budapest, on Industrial Rehabilitation?dealing mainly with the psychological aspect. The interest in this subject in both countries was very real, and the audiences which included doctors from various industries and ministries showed great interest in the preventive and social aspects of industrial medicine. It was perhaps noteworthy (if hardly surprising to those experienced in group behaviour) to find the most exacting and profitable discussion arise in the smallest and most informal audience, consisting of a group of young doctors and girl students in Verona; but the requests from the larger audiences for more information showed a desire to keep in touch with the progress of British medicine.
London University Extension Courses The University of London offers to part-time adult students an opportunity to qualify for an Extension Diploma in Social Studies by attending courses of evening lectures and classes. These courses are held at a number of different centres in London and the Home Counties. The subjects prescribed for the Diploma are:
Social Structure and Social Conditions in England.
Social Psychology.
Social Philosophy.
4. A study of some specialized aspect of social science. In the forthcoming session the following alternatives are offered. (a) The Social Services, Community Organization and Case Work. (b) The Child at Home and in the Community. (c) Social Problems of Industrial Life. (d) The Psychology of Delinquency and Criminology. (e) Youth in Society.
In addition there are a number of forthcoming Extension Courses not recognized for the Diploma, but of great interest to social workers of all kinds, personnel officers, and local government employees. All these courses take place in the evenings and the lecturers are appointed by the University.
For full particulars of Extension Courses in Social Science in London and the Home Counties, enquiry should be made to the Director of Extra-Mural Studies, University of London, Senate House, W.C.I.
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