Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-10-13
Mental heulfh
Conference Held
A. Anoku, Mimi.
by A. NJ. Roach

Anoka, that picturesque town
with two rivers running through
Il, was host 20 1900 people who
came TO participate In Friendship
day at tho first Mental Health
conference OF Minnesota. Oct. 4.
Tho morning session. at which
Governor L. w. Youngdahl spoke
was held In the high school audi.
forum. The governor. while
talking, had disturbing competi-
ton with the Intermittent ring.
ing class bells. lie fAeetiously nc.
cuScd the bell ringer Of being n
Democrat.
In culoGiEing DR. Alexander
Dumas, the Governor reminded w
that there was time when
psychiRtrica were not used In
,riminRl courts. Or, Dumas was
he first chairman Of the Gov.
'rnor'a advisory committee on
mental health. DIR, Dumas son
'arries on In the work.
Gov. YoungdRhl stressed the
'Rct that mental illness Ia no
ItigmR. A sick person has inRlicn-
lble rights 20 be treated with
patience and dignity, Patients are
low receiving the same quality
God rs employees In hospitals.
Mechanical restraints have been
Eliminated to a great extent, as
'vidcnced by the bonfire, several
years ago. where 1900 straight
Jackets and other restraining de-
vices were burned. Intellectual
'estraints are gradually disSp.
Fearing People are learning that
philosophy Of love and Kindness
= more effective In treating the
mentally III than the cruel and
IArsh treatments used previously
Al a result Of our education In
prevention, some T. n. buildings
rave been closed through an en-.
lbling act.
The afternoon session was held
N the grounds Of the State Hos
pltal. The air was very chilly. the
sun WAS warm and comforting.
the speakers were concise and
Informative, and the audience at
tsntiVe.
Most Of tho speakers dwelt on
the need for cooperation and 70.
aponsiblhty. A community owes
II to the mentally III. Families
should also be educated Ia proper
attitudes when n former patient
returns home. We, M fellow hu.
man beings should do all In our
power 10 help such n person 10
adjust himself TO HIS environment
M n useful member of the com
munity.
Mental health clinics are needed
Il was pointed out, Early dis
cOvcry and treatment Of n patient
effects an early discharge.
A sustained program II needed
In research and tho field Of pre-
vcntiOn.
One speaker stated that n pa
tIcnt should enter n hospital on
his own vohuon. although only
% per cent do 40 now. IIr also
said that a private hospital II not
~ good for the patient M n state
hospital Where the patient IL
treated with n group, ne has In
ccntivc 10 get well \ private hos
pltAi gives n patient too eiabDr-
ate attention, ~ there In no In.
ccntlve 10 got we'll
Maybe We are not all men.
tally healthy" We are not all In
perfect physical health, 80 our
mental health can be- questioned
also" one speaker reminded uS.
Another speaker told h0w our
legal red tape" In committing q
patient 10 q hospital slows much
NJ the progrnAs
Col ~ Edmund Bulls, a re-
tired army man, IL dsv0ting all
his time 20 this mental health
program
His reports m methods IN var
iDus states and advanced dryeIOp-
mrnts was informative and inter.
cstinR
There In much need for VOlun,
irrr aid 10 the state Institutions,
u WIS revealed In the entertain
ment program, music has lot ~
pDweT and much help n needed In
craft work and other talents 10
hip the patient into q useful and
normal state Of mind
To help the mentally ~ and
recently cured. We must have
compassion and understanding,
tempered with good common
sHnSs. was the theme running
through the conference program