Evening star., 1943-08-31
Conditions INDUCING
Mental Strain in D. T.,
Cited by 0verhoIser

N Speaking before the Conference of
Employe Counseling and the Council
of Social Agencies last night, DR..
Winfred Overholser, superintendent
of st. Elizabeth's Hospital, praised
the Government personnel workers
Tor their interest in psychiatry.
4 DR.. Overholser said it was desir-
able for the Federal Government
TO investigate the background of
Those who had suffered nervous
breakdowns before employing them
IN Washington because the Stresses
OF wartime living here might lead
TO further mental trouble.
4, Among the causes of mental
breakdowns listed by DR.. Overholser
were the crowded living conditions,
the high cost of living which left
virtually nothing at the end of the
month for the S1,440-a-year worker,
the lack of recreation and home
sickness.
q Friendly Attention Helps.
M There is no place where you can
aeel so alone as in large CITY," he
said, "and sometimes all that is
needed is little friendly attention"
n He said also that the lack of
roots" here has added to the num-
Der Of breakdowns. He explained
that many persons, even though
they have lived in Washington for
o period of years, do not feel that
the city is their home DR.. Over
holser quoted friend as saying that
washington is a place where every
one is welcome but no one is missed"
IS DR.. Overholser was the principal
speaker at conference on Health
Services in Wartime Washington"
held at Interior Department. Join
ing him on panel discussion after
dis talk were DR.. Daniel l.. Sec
Ringer, assistant District health Off
Ger; DR.. John Orem, superintendent
af Sibley Hospital and head of the
Hospital Superintendents Associa-
zion; Miss Helen Shuford of the
National Capital Housing Agency;
DIR. A. Magruder Macdonald, Dis
frict coroner; Miss Gertrude Bowl
ang. director of the Instructive
Visiting Nurses Society and Willard
C. Smith, administrator of the
Health Security Administration, who
served as chairman.
M City's Assets Outlined.
Ii DR.. Overholser said that I'm spite
of the climate" there were many
Things to be said in favor of the
city Among the favorable factors,
he listed progressive health de-
partment," a good water supply sys-
tenn, the sanitary code, the munich
pal hospital and tuberculosis hos
pitfalls. Dr.. Overholser said the dis
advantages included the slums, the
large number of homes without
summing water, crowded living con-
sfiitions, the Unfortunately high tu-
berculosis death rate among the
Ecolored," and the existence of ty-
}phoid, which, he said, was almost
sinexcusable.
& AS for the mental situation here,
DIR. Overholser said that the city
had the highest commitment rate
to mental institution in the coun-
try.
q In response to a question from
the floor about crowded living con-
ditions, Miss Shuford said that
frankly there was little help pos
<sible at present for families in the
low income group. From a health
standpoint, DR.. Seckinger said there
was need for, complete housing
Stinits for families.
& Lists Medical Facilities.
H Panel members outlined the va
Srious medical and hospital facilities
available in the District. DR.. Mac
Donald urged sympathetic handling
aof unmarried mothers and strongly
condemned case in which such a
mother had been forced to resign
Arom her Government Job.
Is That is the worst way in the
world to handle these cases." he
Stleclared.
& The meeting was brought to a
CLOSE by Charles Cunningham of the
War Departments counseling SER
Eyice, who served as member of the
96ponsoring committee.