Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-01

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understand the purpose Of this kind of
bureau. There is no idea of hunting
out people who are a trifle queer and
railroading them into the institution.
The bureau is to provide a place where
the person who has some difficulty In
adjusting himself to life can go for
treatment just as he would go to q
doctor il he had sprained wrist.
Such persons are numerous, and they
include many of the most gifted and
potentially valuable types.
A visit to such a clinic does not in
any sense imply insanity. A limited
vocabulary leads people to call any
one who is eccentric, or has unusual
ideas, crazy, and by this careless use
of words stigma has been attached
to the possession Of mentality that
does not approximate the average
standard of mediocrity. When we
realize that genius or an intelligent
citizen in no danger of insanity may
have mental problem no less than
moron we may get sane viewpoint
of mental hygiene.
Mental Trouble No Disgrace.
There are all grades of sanity and
intelligence, and no one is in all re-
spects normal" Most people simply
manage to conform to their surround
ings sufficiently to be inconspicuous.
When an inability to adjust himself to
life becomes a weight on the mind of
an individual he is case for q mental
hygiene clinic. This trouble may be
serious and it may be easily overcome
by psychoanalysis or by change of
work or amusement. Mental problems
range from such comparative slight
troubles as persistent insomnia, or an
unreasoning fear Of some place or
thing, to cases in which the persons
will power seems entirely paralyzed.
There is an enormous amount Of
mental unhealthiness of all degrees in
our midst, but practically no notice is
taken unless a case reaches a stage
where it advertises itself. This Is
partly for the reason already men
toned, that stigma has unfortun-
ately been attached to the possession
of mind that varies from what people
call normal. The other reason why
more people who are affected by men
tai troubles do not consult an expert
is that they do not know where to
find one.
The doctor at mental hygiene clin-
ic here tells us that the general medi-
cal practitioner is inclined to put men
tai troubles into two classes-those
that are imaginary or that are minor
symptoms of physical disorder, and
those that are obviously serious
enough to be diagnosed only by an
alienist.
Mesta Clinics Increase.
All the large cities, however, now
maintain mental clinics, and there are
generally also psychiatrists who dag
nose and treat mental disease. The
same doctor impresses upon us the
fact that the name "psychiatrist" or
some other impressive title cannot be
taken in itself rs sign of competence.
He advises that no one should consult
any practitioner for mental advice
without first ascertaining whether the
doctor in question is a member of the
local medical society. In large city
there is also generally a society of
doctors of nervous and mental diseases
and If there is such local organiza-
ton, the practitioner should be check
ed up there.
That mental diseases can be traced
back either to living conditions or to
bodily disorder, and that they can be
successfully treated are still new ideas
to many people. The mental hygiene
movement is dated from the publica-
ton, in 1900, of Clifford Beers "a
Mind that Found Itself in which he
vividly described his experience in
New England hospitals for the in
sane. His plea for more intelligent
and humane treatment of mental pa
tients resulted within year In the
formation of q national committee
for mental hygiene and Connecticut
society for mental hygiene, and there
are now Is similar organizations
working in different states.