Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-10
Doctors for the Public Mind
BY Frederic j. Haskin
w YASHINGTON. D. c., March 5.-A bu-
Nv reau of mental hygiene for the city

Of Washington, which will look aft
er the mental health Of the citizens, just as
the present health department looks after
their physical well-being, is now being pro-
jected by sociel workers, and is certainly one
Of the most striking Of recent ideas in munic-
pal administration.
Washington's problems the problems
of other towns. The far-reaching effects OF
diseased mind are felt in every community.
But the diagnosis and treatment of mental
disturbances are still largely III an expert
mental stage. 1t is only recently that l@st1-
buttons for the insane have become HOSPITALS
as we'll as homes. And 1t is still more re-
cent development that the cities have begun
to establish clinical organizations to treat
such diseases in their less advanced stages.
These clinics have done pioneer work, and
already certain facts are recognized. clinic
here treated 800 people during the past year,
mostly eliminates of institutions and chill
dren. 1t reports that during the year of it's
existence, of numerous children brought to
it from the juvenile court, not one has been
sent to the reform school-Where they might
have been put had they continued the prac-
tees for which they were haleC into court.
The doctor in charge of this same mental
hygiene clinic inform us that it is IN ex-
tremely rare occurrence that the reasoi4 for
anti-social or irrational acts cannot be traced
and corrective treatment outlined. Patients
usually make return trips to the clinic, and
the clinics social workers last year made
1900 visits to homes to see how the pa
tients were progressing. This work was
chiefly with children.
1t is hard to tabulate lasting results of
treatment in each case, because after time,
the clinic almost always loses sight of its
old patients, and it can only presume that
they have not had further trouble. From
encouraging results noted in large per-
centage of cases during clinical supervision
the doctor il charge states as his belief that
could every chilli who had unusual or
troublesome traits, 'be properly treated by
psychiatrist md have the proper environ
ment for the rest of it's adolescence the num-
Der of cases going into jails and insane in
situations you'd be materially lessened. 1t
is recognized that the majority of mentally
diseased adults had symptoms Of al alb
normal condition in childhood. 1t is also
true that children can be more easily treated
than adults. They are more readily guided
away from the unhealthy thoughts or asso-
Cations and the abnormal condition in them
is in the majority of cases less deeply rooted
Scientists Favor Project
The success of such clinics as this one,
working in settlements and poorer districts
has led to the idea that the treatment offer
ed to a snail part of the people should be
available to everyone-therefore, the plan
here for mental hygiene bureau.
DR.. w. A. White, superintendent OF st.
Elizabeth's, the government hospital for the
insane is in favor Of the establishment of the
bureau. So also, is DR.. Robert Yerkes, au-
thor of the mental intelligence tests used in
the army. Both of these men are OH the
committee for mental hygiene. In TACT all
the alienists, doctors, and social workers of
the city who are interested in mental prob
lens, advocate the project.
How the bureau would junction Is at
present purely speculative. There might be
a central clinic for the entire city, though
this suggestion has been opposed on the
grounds that people would hesitate to come
for consultation to large public clinic. A
more desirable plan from this point of view
is for a lumber of small clinics in different
sections of town.
A mental hygiene board or commission
would probably be organized to direct the
work of promoting mental hygiene in the
city. Such board would conduct research
to keep up with the newest methods and dis
coveries. 1t would try to educate the public
to more rational viewpoint toward mental
defects and disorders. And it would work
with schools and other institutions to dag
nose abnormal cases.
The scientists warn us not to misunder-
stand the purpose of this kind of bureau.
There is no idea of hunting out people who
are trifle queer and railroading them into
institutions. The bureau is to provide
place where the person who has some diff
Guilty in adjusting himself to life can go for
treatment just as he would go to a doctor if
he had sprained wrist Such persons are
numerous, lid they include many of the
most gifted and potentially valuable types.
A visit to such clinic does not in any
sense imply insanity. limited vocabulary
leads people to call any one who is eccentric,
or has unusual ideas, crazy, anu by this care
less use of words stigma has been attached
to the possession of mentality that does not
approximate the average standard of medioc-
rity. When we realize that genius an
intelligent citizen in danger of insanity
moron we may get a sane. viewpoint of
mental hygiene.
Mental Trouble No Disgrace
There are all grades of sanity and intell-
gence, and no one is in all respects normal"
Most people simply manage to conform to
their surroundings sufficiently to be incon-
spicuous. When an inability to adjust him
self to life becomes a weight on the mind of
an individual he is case for a mental hy-
giene clinic His trouble may not be serious
and it may be easily overcome by psyche
analysis or by change of work or amuse-
ment. Mental problems range from such
slight troubles as persistent in
somnia, or an unreasoning fear # some place
or thing, 20 cases in which the persons will
power seems entirely paralyzed
There is an enormous amount of mental
of all uegrees in Cur midst,
but practically no notice is taken unless a
case reaches stage where it advertises it
self. This is partly for the reason already
mentioned that a stigma has unfortunately
been attached to the possession of a mind that
varies from what people call normal. The
other reason why more people who are af
fected by mental troubles do not consult an
expert is tina: they do not know where to
find one.