Evening star., 1941-10-21
Psychiairisl Sees
Mental Ills Rejecting
250o OF SeIectees
Misfits Must Be Weeded
Out TO Uphold Morale,
Social Agencies Told

Possibility that 25 per cent of
all seleCtive service registrants
examined would be found mentally
unfit for Army service was forecast
yesterday by DR.. Henry Stack Sulli-
van, consulting psychiatrist for ma
tional selecetive service headquar-
terS
"When We know more" DR.. Sulli-
van told the health division of the
Council of Social Agencies, there
probably will be around 25 per cent
rejection of men suffering from some
form of psychosis,"
DR.. Sullivan admitted that fore
most in the minds of draft officials
was the wedding out of these miSfltS
in order that they may not break
down after entering service and
thereby lower the morale and COM
bat efficiency of other soldiers.
Hysteria Tendency Disruptive.
TT therefore becomes imperative
to keep out of the Army men who
are mentally unfit" he declared. He
cited as an example the complicated
mechanism of the Armv@'itle, which
these detectives will find too much
for them"
PSychOneurotics. he pointed out. |
have a tendency for hysteria which |
'is likely to disrupt whole fighting
units
DR.. Sullivan said studies show that
reglstrants over % years are pro- /
eresSiyely more active in psyche F,
pathic instances than men between |
q and % years. With only 1000
pSvChiatriStS available in the United F.
States and A total Of 5000 draft /,
boards. it becomes increasingly i'm !
peratiye that physicians begin to
do some of the work that either has
been left to chance or psychiatrists, I
Dr. Sullivan said.
Army red tape" was blamed by
Dr. Alexander Simon, senior medical
officer of St. Elizabeths Hospital, |
for delay in releasing soldiers who
break down after going into the
service. 1T is some times months
before a man can be released" he
declared.
MANY Lie" About Records.
"AfterWard he becomes a ward
of the Government for the rest of
his life = :. Eventually he will
cost the Government between $50
600 and S35 600" Dr. Simon said. !
Dr.. Simon pointed out that draft
board examiners were handicapped
by lack of records on some selectees
who to all appearances, are of
sound mind. 1T is difficult to de-
teCt them at first Many lie
when asked if they have been
institutionalized for mental treat
ment," he said.
1T Is absolutely essential that
social service records be made avail
able to examining psychiatrists,"
he declared. in asking cooperation
of social workers.
Not Strengthened Out" /
A study of 1873 enlisted men ad-
mltted to st. Elizabeth's last year
revealed that 35 per cent came
from broken homes, Is per cent
had been arrested more than once.
10 per cent had been in mental !
hospitals before entering ST. Eliza
beth's, DR.. Simon told the large
group of social workers. The men /
were not selectees but regulars of |
the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. |
A potential psyrhiatric breaks
down very soon after entering serv-
ice, usually displaying symptoms
within the first six months, the
medical officer said. Families of
such men, who have the impression
Army life will help them Ito
straighten out" are mistaken in
their theory, he added.
DR.. Paul EWerhardt, chairman of
the councils Mental Health Com
nittee and presiding officer at the
luncheon. pointed out that the Dis
trict paid s18O each day for over
1000 patients in St. Elizabeth's. an
annual sum slightly less than So
100000.
The number of children and
adults with psychiatric symptoms
imperatlvelv demands programs
which society still continues to !
view with Indifference the chair
man said.
Mrs. Harlan FiSke Stone. wife of
the Chief Justice of the Supreme /
Court, was among the guests at
the luncheon held in the K street
Y, w, c. A.