The Treatment of Insanity
The following is an extract from a letter which appeared in the press in October. We are glad to give it publicity in our columns.
Admissions to mental hospitals increase by approximately 1,600 yearly. But, owing to shortage of accommodation, tar greater numbers are waiting lor treatment. It has been estimated that one-tenth of the population is affected by psycho-neurotic disorder and that this accounts for one-third of all cases of illness whatsoever….
There is no physician in England whose sole professional duty is to investigate the psychology of insanity. Research is left to the leisure of voluntary workers. In County Mental Hospitals, one doctor has on an average three hundred patients in his care.
The percentage of patients discharged as cured from mental hospitals in this country every year is no greater than it was fifty years ago. Clinics, which may save patients from entering mental hospitals and which also deal with valuable material for research, are mainly staffed by selfsacrificing voluntary workers and receive little support from local authorities.
The Mental Treatment Act (1930) was approved by Members of Parliament of all parties and enabled local authorities to provide (1) Outpatient treatment. (2) Voluntary treatment for those who apply. (3) Temporary treatment for many who would otherwise be certified. Nevertheless, it has been a disappointment… .
We therefore write, Sir, to urge that this immeasurable human suffering and the burden it imposes upon the community should be relieved and ultimately removed through the establishment by the Government of a number of research fellowships. We ask that clincs for early treatment be more generally provided and that mental hospitals be more adequately staffed. And we ask, Sir, that humane men and women in this scientific age shall cease considering mental disease as a thing to be kept out of sight.
Priscilla Annesley. Rutherford Morison, Alfred Beit. F.R.C.S., D.C.L., LL.D. Havelock Ellis. Olivier. J. C. Flugel. G. W. Pailthorpe, M.D., M.B., B.S. Maurice Hamblin Smith, D. N. Pritt. M.D., M.R.C.S. Queenborough. E. T. Jensen, Bertrand Russell. M.B., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Sybil Thorndike. P. K. McCowan, Josiah C. Wedgwood. M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.M. H. G. Wells. *Published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Price 1/-.
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