Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-04
STUDY MENTAL HYGIENE
By H. Addington Bruce
TIME subject of mental hygiene has


TIME subject of mental hygiene has of late
been special theme for newspaper dis
~ cuSSion in various cities, because of nu-
merouS meetings held under the auspices of the
| National Committee for Mental Hygiene. But
| it is to be feared that many people, owing to a
widespread and sadly mistaken notion, have
paid nothing like the heed to such discussion
all should pay.
Mental hygiene, they have taken for granted
is of no personal concern to them. 1t is some
thing that has to do with feebemindneSS- and
insanity. They are neither feebeminded nor
insane, so why should they bother about it1
And, indeed mental hygiene has very much
to do with feebemindedness and insanity. But
also it has to do with the health, happiness
and efficiency of every human being, the men
tally normal as we'll as the mentally diSorderd
This makes it Of universal significance.
The world, as everybody knows. abounds in
people who, without being mentally defective
or aberrant are not making the Roadway in
business life they had hoped to make. Also it
aboundS in people who suffer in marked de-
gree from character peculiariteS, so that they
are perhaps excessively timid, perhaps excess
sively irritable, perhaps given to excessive
worry.
All this causes them to lose a great deal
that, they are inStinctivey aware, life should
yield to them. 1t breeds in them discomfort,
reStleSSneSS, perhaps profound depression of
mind
And often-though this is something they
may not appreciate with anything like the clear
ness of their appreciation of the unhappineSS
that beSets then1-their discomfort reStleSSneSS,
and depression are due to nothing more than
ignorance of the laws of right thinking. They
are paying penalty in decreased efficiency and
in misery of mind akin to the penalty of bodily
ill health imposed for violations of the laws of
right living.
Though, for that matter, bodily i'll health in
the way of functional nervous disorders may
itself be due to nothing more than family think
ing So that there is ample reason all should
learn just what the laws of right thinking are.
Study of mental hygiene would give the
necessary knowledge. And not few opponents
of mental hygiene have been at pains, through
writing simple handbookS on the subject and
through giving public lectures on it, to make
such study available for all who would profit
from it,
(How to conquer worry doubt, and indecision,
how 20 become more courageous and Self-re-
liant, how to develop emotional control in gen
eral, how to grow in will power, in reasoning
power-theSe and like themes find a place in
The subject matter fomental hygiene as truly
as do such problems as the prevention and care
Of outright mental disease If the latter are
not of immediate personal concern to every
body the former most asSuredly are.
Study mental hygiene, then, as an aid to
greater well-being both of mind and of body.
If uncertain as to the means whereby you best
may study it, write to me in the care of this
newspaper for a list of helpful books. l have
prepared such list, which shall be glad to
send to all who enclose a stamped and ad-
dressed envelope for my answer to their in
quirieS.
Copyright 1922, by The Associated News
paDerSO