Evening star., 1945-08-21
Veterans Regaining
Health Aid Comrades
Al St. EIizabeth's
BY SARAH FLINN

A group of veterans who wound
up their war experiences In the
psychiatric wards at st. Elizabeth's
Hospital but who now are begin
ming to get back their balance,
have organized new veter-
ans organization to help other
veterans at the hospital still SUI
fering from the experience they
went through.
The personnel shortage at the
hospital makes it imperative that
most Of the psychiatric cases there
be locked up until they have SUM-
ciently recovered to be allowed free
dom Of the grounds. Only about so
of almost 1000 patients have this
freedom now. A dozen of the men
who have these out-of-ward priH-
leges have decided, now that they're
getting well, they can help the hos
pital, the other patients and them
selves by serving as leaders Of rec
reational groups.
Organized by Patients.
The club-which they have called
the Mutual Aid Club will work
somewhat on the principle of the
Alcoholics Anonymous, where re.
formed alcoholics help drunkards.
1t was organized by the patients,
with the cooperation of the Navy
medical corpsmen, and DR.. Michael
M. Miller, one of the hospital psy-
chiatrists. DR.. Winfred Overholser.
hospital superintendent, has ap-
proved the plan in principle.
One of the clubs charter members
Is a veteran of three years in the
South Pacific-call him Jack. He
explained his reasons for wanting
the club yesterday.
The first IS days I was there, I
was in confinement ward. There
weren't enough stan members to
take us for walks or to the movies
or help us play games. They brought
movies around occasionally or some
times Red Cross worker would
come In and supervise handicrafts.
But most Of the time there was no
equipment and no staff, so we Just
lay there.
Recovered Quickly. .I
There wasn't anything to do but
think. And what you thought about
was the things you saw in the Pa
cifiic-the things that threw you of
balance. Later on, was allowed
out OF the ward and could play ball
and go to the Red Gross recreation
center for movies. I got better a
lot quicker" Jack doesn't think
much any more about the Pacific
he's thinking about the business
course he's going to take and the
night club he's going to open up
back home when he leaves the hos
pital.
Il was only in confinement ward
As days. But some of the men have
been in them for years. I think I'd
have been well sooner II I hadn't
spent As days worrying about nv.
self and I think the rest of them
would be better off with more to
do, too"
The MAC members hope the hos
pltal authorities will let them act
as TRUSTEES" AS it is now, a staff
member can take a small group
perhaps 10 men-to the movies. The
MAC members think they could
work 1t so that one staff member
and 10 club members could take so
men to the movies.
Would Help All.
The medical corpsmen, who are
closest to the patients, agree that
it's good idea. THE boys naturally
resent some Of the hospital author
tiles" one said. But they get along
swell with each other. They ali
would be cooperative, so the other
men wouldn't get in trouble. And
besides helping out those men still
in confinement ward, it would be-
good for the men who do the help
ing. 1t would give them something
to think about besides themselves,
show them they can be responsible,
and take leadership" |
The MAC members think that be-
sides helping out the personnel sit
uatlon, they can do something about
the shortage of equipment. DR.. Mil
Ter has talked to representatives of
national veterans organizations
who promised to help. The men
themselves think If they prove they
can make good in helping their bud
dies, other clubs will spring up in |
mental hospitals all over the coun-
try. With enough members they can
get interest aroused in having equip
ment donated to the hospitals, they
say.
The club is still in its organiza-
tional stage, and the program hasn't
got under way yet-but DR.. Miller
the club members, and the corpsmen
say all they need is a chance, and
they'll prove they can do it with no
trouble for any one, and help all
around.