The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-07
A NEW SOCIETY.

This country has been aptly des- cribed as a nation of societies and It's populace as an aggregation of pres idents, presidents, secretaries and treasurers. Indeed, there are so many societies of one kind or another, that we had entertained the idea that American genius for organization could never again find relief in this direction, except, perhaps. by bring ing Into existence a Society for the Suppression of unfounded Societies and useless ones already in existence. But it seems we were in error, and recent event proves t.
 The Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene, founded yesterday In this city, shows that there Is still room in some fields for organized effort on tho part of those interested in the well fare of mankind This nsw society comes into existence as a direct result of the efforts of Mir Clifford Whiting ham Beers. author of that revolution i2ng and interesting work, "A Mind that Found ltsclf' Published less than two months ago, this book has created profound impression, not only in this state, which figures so con spicuously in the story, but throughout the country, and in England IS well. Al last the mental health of he na- ton is to receive deserved protection. This Is to be accomplished through the agency of independent State So- cietes for Mental Hygiene modelled after the Connect 'ut Society which is to blaze the way, the work being car ried out under the auspices of a rcp- resentatlve National Committee for Mental Hygiene. soon to be formally founded. Experts on the subject dealt with predict great results from the impending campaign of education and reform.
 The preliminary prospectus of the Connecticut Society sets forth convinc- lngly the possibilities that await work CTS in the chosen field, In brief tho aims of the Society for Mental Hy- gicne are: to coordinate the impulses os those willing to help the cause: to become permanent agency for edu- cation and reform ir the field Jf ner- yous and mental diseases; to improve conditions among those actually in sane and confined. and to protect the mental health of 'he public al large; to cooperate With those in our hospit- als where the mentally afflicted are confncd 10 wage an oducatlve war against the prevailing ignorance re- garding the conditions and modes of living which tend to produce mental disorders, to distribute information which will warn and help rescue those threatened with mental collapse, and indicate the help at hand to study the question of making the legal protcc. commitment less of burden for all concerned; to spread knowledge oi the principle of non-restraint; tc bring into existence After-C are Com. mittecs for the benefit of discharged patients who need help; to hold ir check political influences which m SC many states have hlndered progress in the hospital field and done incalcu lable harm, to secure Legislation ! which will provide for effective super vision of private institutions wherein nervous and mental diseases arc treat td to deviso means for attracting in to the work higher grade of attend ants: to bring into existence into Con necticut a system of model hospital which shall serve as a model for othe States to copy; to assist medca schools in their work, and lastly, t' look to the public for the funds 1t vii need to carry on the work
 2
 That 1t should look to the publ
 for support is but right, for the So . ciety in protecting the mental healtl
 of the public will, perforce, place 1t
 self in a position to help any indivd
 ual who may need its assistance. An
 who dares say who will never need 1t help?