Mental Health in Modern Society
- Author:
Thomas A. C. Rennie, M.D., and Luther E. Woodward,
Ph.D. New York: The Commonwealth Fund. London: Oxford University Press: Geoffrey Cumber lege. 22s.
This rather ponderous book sets out to draw the lessons from the psychiatric experiences of the second world war, and to apply them to modern American Society at peace. Its first part is devoted to a survey of the psychiatric services of the armed forces and of war cases, together with problems of resettlement into civil life; it is, perhaps, a pity that these subjects, which have already received so many books and papers, occupies practically a third of the book, which could have been devoted more profitably to an amplification of the authors’ views on Part II (Continuing Problems) and Part III (Sources of Help in Treatment and Prevention). The latter in particular compels the interest of the reader by its imaginative suggestions as to the integration of various aspects of mental health; the practising physician, the social worker, the psychologist, the minister of religion, and the industrial services each receive a chapter; and examples are given of the particular scope of each, and moreover of the ways in which each can supplement the work of the other. In all this the problems are seen both from the angle of the individual and of his place in society. The result is an excellent, well-balanced and stimulating survey; though more space could, perhaps, be given to the practical difficulties of collaboration. The authors then go on to give a valuable chapter on interviewing technique, and, a little out of place, another short and rather misleadingly facile survey of family living which perhaps would hardly persuade the reader of their own essential, ” people must first be convinced of the need for maturity “. The chapter on education is again disappointing, but the summary in the last chapter re-emphasizes the wider problems, sets out once more the responsibilities of the citizen and scientist, and lays down a series of practical policies for the future. R.F.T.
Disclaimer
The historical material in this project falls into one of three categories for clearances and permissions:
Material currently under copyright, made available with a Creative Commons license chosen by the publisher.
Material that is in the public domain
Material identified by the Welcome Trust as an Orphan Work, made available with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
While we are in the process of adding metadata to the articles, please check the article at its original source for specific copyrights.