Show PT PTA A P F Proves u les Mental Health t- t A conjoint meeting of the Ephraim Elementary ManU Mantl Elementary Ephraim Junior High and Manti High PTA units was held Thursday Oct 21 in the Ephraim Junior High School Building A discussion discussion discussion dis dis- dis- dis of mental health and the work of the Mental Health Clinic in the South Sanpete Schools was presented Mrs Donald R. R Christensen conducted and introduced Mrs Glen Lee PTA Council President dent She explained the need for specialists suggesting we wet t all need help in maintaining mental health at least at some sometime sometime sometime time during our life and she purported we need someone outside ourselves to give this help f Mrs Lee acted as moderator moderator moderator modera modera- tor of a panel discussion Participants Participants Participants Par Par- on the panel were Supt Jack Burr Dr Joseph Smith Mr Milton G G. Thackeray Thack Thack- e Bray eray ay and Dr Elwin C. C Niel Niel- son Directing questions to the members of the panel were Mrs Jackie Christensen Ephraim Ephraim Ephraim Eph Eph- raim Elementary PTA president president president dent Mrs Marilou Sanders Manti ManU High School PTA president president dent Mrs Ruth Manti ManU Elementary PTA president president president dent and Mrs Montel Green Questions directed to the panel were to clarify the position position position po po- po- po of the Ithe Mental Health Clinic and its work in the South Sanpete schools Also directed to the panel were any questions from any interested sources that had previously written their questions and handed them to the PTA Supt Burr outlined the mechanics mechanics mechanics me me- of the program its organization and how it works He noted that the program was organized in 1960 People People Peo Pea pie who were instrumental in getting the program started were Dr Lamar H. H Stewart county health officer at that time Supt Maurice C. C Barnett Barnett Barnett Bar- Bar nett Supt Spafford Public Health Nurses Ruth Hansen and Wanda Elliason and County Commission chairman chairman chair chair- man Clifford Blackham He said that the Mental Health Clinic was organized after conferring with the Utah Medical Medical Med Med- ical leal Association and the State Dept of Health The Mental Health Clinic team consists of Dr Joseph Smith a medical doctor who has ihas specialized in psychiatry Dr Elwin Nielson a clinical psychologist who has his PhD in psychology Milton G. G Thackery social worker now on the staff of the University of Utah An Advisory Board was later later la la- ter appointed and its present members are arc chairman Mrs Eugene bachelors bachelor's degree in sociology county public health nurses Ruth Hansen and Wanda Eliason child welfare worker Harold Thompson school Jack Burr and Spafford president of the South Sanpete Sanpete Sanpete San San- pete school board Glen Lee North Sanpete secondary supervisor supervisor supervisor su su- su- su Elliot Arnoldsen county commissioners Stanley Voorhees and Keith Hansen curriculum coordinator Lilian Lillian Lillian Lil Lil- lian Fjeldsted county health officer Dr H. H B B. B Wasatch Academy teacher Shirley Olmsted counselor of the North Sanpete High School Grant Johansen and Mrs Donald Hafen bachelors bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology psychology psychology licensed practical nurse engaged in mental health work Editors Editor's note The expenses of the three professional team members are Dr Smith receives receives receives re re- re- re for each day in inthe inthe inthe the county Mr Thackeray and Dr Nielson receive 50 for each day they are in San San- pete In addition each one Is paid 25 a visit for living ex ex- The driver of the vehicle vehicle ve ve- hicle hide bringing the group to Sanpete receives lOc a mile remuneration South Sanpete School Scho Scho l Districts District's share of af the cost is aro around nd 1800 a year Supt Burr stated that oases cases of af individuals under 18 had been seen by the South Sanpete clinic and 20 adults All referrals of af minors under 18 were made by parental consent consent consent con con- sent and a referral from a aM M MD M.D. D. D In the case of adults a referral from a MD M.D. was re re- Supt Burr stated there is no specific law that states slates that the Sanpete school distracts districts districts dis dis- tracts can conduct a Mental Health Clinic school districts are allowed to hire psychologists psychologists psychologists doctors and like personnel personnel personnel person person- nel to help with the problems that young people have It was noted that the team visits the county twice each month once in South Sanpete and once in North Narth Sanpete North Sanpete also pays a comparable reimbursement In response to a question directed directed di dl- to Dr Smith he stated that in our schools there has been no group therapy but only group discussions discussions' The value of the group discussions is preventive He stated that thata a student who has come into the group discussions will not likely be referred to the clinic It was noted that group counseling was not inaugurated ted as an integral part of af the initial program but amalgamated amalgamated amalgamated amalga amalga- mated later Group counseling has not been considered group therapy therefore parental consent has not been mandatory manda manda- tory atory Supt Burr stated that the policy governing the group grup sessions was changed to require require require re re- re- re quire a signed slip from paren par par- en ts In response to a question directed to Dr Nielson he stated that a normal child chUd is growing and happy and that any extreme deviation from the normal pattern was ari an ro indication indication indication in in- of af mental illness Dr Nielson stated that it is better betterto to catch the problems of menal menal menal men- men al illness at an early age for forthe forthe forthe the very obvious reason that the longer the problem waits the bigger the problem be be- comes Dr Nielson said that while parents blame themselves ves yes for the problems of their children t the they h e y certainly should not They should recognize recognize rec the problems then find out how and try to correct t them Dr Nielson explained that parents are not always to be blamed for a la childs child's problems He cited brain damage damage damage dam dam- age as an example where parents par par- p parents r. r are arc blameless Mr Thackeray said that mental illness is often portrayed portray portray- ed through speech and speech difficulties because speech is undoubtedly associated with our emotions and how we feel fecI Mr Thackeray agreed that there is still some stigma attached attached attached at at- to people seeking professional professional professional pro pro- help through programs programs programs pro pro- grams but that considerable progress has been made In answer to what degree of success success success suc suc- cess the clinic has had Mr Thackeray pointed out that itis it itis itis is difficult to ItO measure success It is difficult to measure the success of an idea by a teacher teach teach- er and we do not often see immediate results He listed isted eight specific cases where referrals had been helped by the clinic Dr Thackeray did not feel that there was any d danger nger of the Mental Health Clinic becoming becoming becoming becom becom- ing compulsory He pointed out aut that while not all oil districts have the mental health program program program pro pro- gram gram many districts have a avery very much more extensive program program program pro pro- gram with more personnel At the conclusion of the panel the questions submitted at the door were handled by Dr Smith He dismissed them themas as either misstating the facts or quoting some professional in the psychiatry field for whom he could not answer In summing up ithe meeting Supt Burr said people should not fear to make criticisms but they should be directed to people who can help such as school superintendents school board members principals teachers etc He stated We feel that the mental health program has been of definite value to our schools and unless unless unless un un- less we can be convinced that the pro program am is definitely detrimental detrimental detrimental det det- we will stay with the program M l LJ F Y from left to right Milton Mental Health team specialists G. G Thackeray Dr Elwin C. C Nielson nelson and Dr Joseph Smith |