The Second World Mental Health Assembly
The second Assembly of the World Federation for Mental Health took place in Geneva, August 22nd-27th, 1949, and was attended by some 200 delegates from 24 countries. The Assembly was preceded and followed by meetings of the Executive Board.
In accordance with its constitution, the Presidency of the Federation automatically passed this year from Dr J. R. Rees, C.B.E., to Dr Andre Repond, of Switzerland. The President-Elect for 1950-51 is Dr William Line, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada. Dr Rees has been appointed Director of the Federation, and Dr Kenneth Soddy (formerly Medical Director of the National Association for Mental Health), Assistant Director.
In pursuance of the Federation’s policy of giving special attention to mental health work in the country in which its meetings are being held, a plenary session was devoted to Switzerland, and delegates also paid a visit to the Maison de Sante de Malevoz, at Monthey, Valais.
The Assembly, in addition to administrative matters, considered by means of group discussions a number of important aspects of mental health. Points which emerged were: the need for considering the establishment of a Mental Health Institute in every country for research in the field of mental health, and for providing training in mental health work for all those engaged in the professions in the field of human relationships; the establishment of Film Bureaux charged with the collection and distribution of information about films on mental health subjects, and also with promoting the production of such films; the planning of rural mental health activities, and the need for increased participation in the work of the World Federation by educationists, and especially practising teachers. The discussion group on mental health aspects of religion found that too little attention had been given to the relationship between religion and mental health, and recommended the formation of a small Standing Committee to make further studies in this field, in order to ascertain the attitude of various religious groups to psychiatry. The mental health aspects of international relations and the psychological problems of displaced persons were also considered* and it was urged that international commissions should endeavour to facilitate the absorption of displaced persons into society in a manner most constructive to the individuals concerned and to world society. The group especially urged that such phrases as ” displaced persons ” be dropped in favour of the term ” homeless
It was suggested that the Inter-Professional Advisory Committee of the Federation (I.P.A.C.) should study how the Federation might make ” the greatest possible impact upon the world at large in matters pertaining to mental health in the widest sense, since the World Federation draws its vigour and inspiration from the study groups working in different parts of the world Among its several recommendations, this group proposed the development of International Institutes of Mental Health and Human Relations. It also recommended two projects for study groups with a view to the Annual Assembly in France next year and the next International Congress on Mental Health to be held in 1952, namely: (a) The study of leadership and authority in local committees;* (b) the study of concentration camps, their causes, phenomena and consequences. To these’ subjects, the Executive Board subsequently added: Industrial relations, and the mental health aspects of education. Considerable attention was given by the Assembly to the question of closer co-operation with the World Health Organization, Unesco and other specialized agencies of the United Nations. The Federation undertook to assist W.H.O. in making a comprehensive survey of mental health needs and existing facilities in different countries as an essential preliminary to the improvement of such facilities. It was also decided to co-operate with W.H.O. in setting up inter-professional teams which would be available to advise governments on how mental health facilities could best be improved in their respective countries.
The current issue of The Bulletin (the official journal of the World Federation) is devoted to a full account of the proceedings of the Mental Health Assembly, and applications for copies should be addressed to the Secretary of the Federation, 19 Manchester Street, London, W.l.
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