Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Mental Health
Work Lacking
Needed Funds

pied by the mentally i'll, and a
national forecast of one out of
every 10 likely to fall victim TO
mental illness, the County Men
tai Hygiene Society and Clinic
are seeking to do preventive
work with handicap of inaed-
quate funds.
The society which sponsors
the clinic is located at 1923
st. Elmo Street, Bethesda. The
clinic is in Rockville's Farmers
Bank building.
Main purpose of the group. &C.
cording to its president, Ivan
Assay of Bannockburn, is the
recognition, prevention and cure
of mental disorder 1t also seeks
to aid in the financing of treat
ment of the mentally i'll.
According to Miss Lavina
Engles of Forest Glen, one of
the founders of the society, one
of its great problems is to edu-
cate the public to recognize the
first signs of the need for psy-
chiatric help and bring about an
acceptance of that help.
In the first years of the So
ciety's existence, money raising
events for its projects were a
primary function. An annual
horse show at MeadoWbrOok
brought as much as $4,000 at one
time.
This. horse show became a
social highlight with members of
the Redland Hunt joining in.
Special entertainment was pro-
vided by troops from FIT. Myers,
who jumped their horse through
flaming hoops and performed
other like SPECTATORS.
Arthur Godfrey Med one OF
these shows, during which a
mare of his foaled. Afterwards
the society presented him with a
yard offering free psychiatric
services for his colt, of
course, and baby horse blanket.
Dexter and Anne Billiard of
Chestnut Lodge in Rockville gave
generously their time, money
and aid from members of their
staff. Dr. ]. w. Bird. then presi-
dent of the Social Service
League, also was a tower of
strength" according to Miss
LaVinia.
One of the early aims of the
Society was the establishmentpof
a Mental Hygiene Clinic in the
county. DR.. H. Whitman Newell
came from Baltimore in 1885 to
help with the planning.
For several years he and other
area pSychiatrists conducted a
one-day-a-month clinic which was
primarily for diagnostic inter.
views with children referred by
social agencies in the county.
In 1914, a permanent Mental
Hygiene Clinic was set up in
Rockville and supported by Com.
munity Chest funds. In 1919,
Federal-State funds were made
available by the Maryland State
Health Department.
AT present, 50 percent of its
financial support comes from the
Community Chest, 33 percent
from matched Federal-State
funds and IA percent from fees
for services which are scaled &C,
cording to income and waived IN
instances of need.
It's services are available to
all county residents and applica,
ton can be made by telephone
Pc. 2-3933. A recent trend from
referrals from agencies to indi
viduals themselves seeking help
is an indication of growth of pub
lie mental hygiene and the
clinic.
It's functions are to serve chill
dren and adults who seek help
for their emotional difficulties
to provide a limited diagnostic
and consultive service to the
various social, health and welfare
agencies of the county, to par
ticipate in community planning
for mental hygiene activities and
to provide training for profeS
sional workers.
It's greatest weakness, OF
course, is the lack of adequate
personnel and a consistently high
turnover of staff from the the
director on down. This in turn
is due to lack of money with
the Community Chest not being
able TO meet its bare minimum
budget for some years now.
This has resulted in a long
waiting period of several months
for diagnostic consultations and
minimum Of a year for treat
ment except in cases OF extreme
emergency.
An ingenious partial solution
20 cut down the waiting time was
begun last year with an expert
ment in groups therapy which
has proved very successful.
Although almost completely
self sufficient from fees Of $3.50
a meeting this nrnnn actiNitN