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Show The true significance of America's current rate of mental illness probably lies somewhere between these two translations!. It would seem presumptuous to claim we have all made a complete adjustadvances of science, or ment to the breath-takin- g to assert that the Atomic Age does not present some new: hazards for individual mental health. But I think itwould be equally absurd to insist that we have lost more than half our former resistance to mental diseases, or to suppose that probmankind nd longer can solve the self-malems that always have accompanied progress, and no doubt always will. de The hope lies in intensive modern therapy The layman's study of the contemporary mental-healpicture would be incomplete if it. ignored the part supplied by the medical profession. Doc- th " tors specializing in the field assure us that 85 percent of all new mental-hospit- al patients can be discharged as cured in six to eighteen months if intensive modern therapy is provided. If the mental hospital is in or near an en- lightened community, the institution can do a great deal to insulate the recovering patient against the shock of his return to the normal world. The convalescent may work; in the outside world while still living at the hospital and receiving therapy, or he may live in his own. or an approved foster home while finishing his hospital course. But even in these ideal situations the total break from the protected environment is hazardous if, those who receive the convalescent do not regard him as such. And of course the recovering patient who doesn't have continued access to medical guidance and who lives in an area where social and economic discrimination is exercised decision to provide against . form'er mental patients . doesn't have the depends on the general public's "adequate facilities for research, training, treatbest chance for complete recovery. '.t As in any other kind of ailment, the chances for ment, and prevention. for citizens like need There is relatively little recovery are greatest if treatment is given early, but recent experiments 'have proved that time Mrs. X to become excited about the occasional alone has ceased to be a valid basis for regarding person who is discharged prematurely from a or chronic mental patient as a. mental hospital. What we should worry about are the long-ter- m ' ""thethousands of discharges that are delayed beK hopeless 'case. TJhie p.ocedures that have kept cause the hospitals are unable to locate friends or many cases from developing to the point where relatives who are willing to accept these patients hospitalization is required have strengthened the into their homes and guide them along the final jv optimism of those who think mental disease can steps to full recovery! 'V '; V And while theoretically we no longer support be prevented. j. A lag between scientific progress and the general the custodial jnentalcare institution, in practice acceptance of new theories is to be , expected, but these asylums will continue to blight the landscape there appears to have been no appreciable delay until we are willing to make provisions for convalescent care in the normal world. in the public's endprment cpmplishments. However else one interprets the present overcrowding of all existing psychiatric TIM fOi RELATIVES AND FEIENDS facilities, one must recognize that these services OF CONVALESCING MENTAL PATIENTS are not being sought by those who cling to the old idea that the mentally ill are irrevocably doomed. The Illinois Society for Mental Health offers the to families and But a general willingness to accept the benefits following recommendations friends of mental patients returning home after of specialized knowledge isnrt enough to guarantee hospitalization: the widespread practice of new theories. The lag When a convalescent returns home, he needs in bringing curative therapies to all of our mento resume his usual place in the household and tally ill appeals to be in the public's delayed should neither be pampered nor shunned. realization of the part it must play. Include him in all family activities, but don't push him into a round of parties or other affairs How fast we progress is up to us not normal to his way of life. Recent actions taken in some states suggest that Help engage him in wholesome occupation, nation-wide is there agreeit won't be long before but avoid supervising him as if he were incomment that the eventual cost of withholding medical petent to carry out responsibilities on his own. care from the mentally ill is more than we can Last, and very important, show by your attitude that you have confidence in him and love tolerate, either from the humanitarian or the ecohim as you always did. nomic viewpoint. Certainly we must recognize that the ultimate solution of our major health problem . -- : . , 'jotjpMncjic - ) |