Evening star., 1959-12-13
By DIR. BENJAMIN FINE


gram to improve the menta
health of the Nations schoo
children is now under way.
An effort is being made tC
take the stigma out of mental
illness or emotional disorders
And. more than that, the best
brains in the medical profes-
sion are delving into the
why" of mental breakdowns.
When a child bruises his leg,
he gets immediate attention,
and, if the bone is Clipped,
he is taken to the doctor. But
if the same child becomes
withdrawn. shows signs of men,
tai disturbances, or diSrupts his
home or classroom, frequently
nothing is done for him. 1t is
just as important, psychologists
and educators say, to help a
child with mental illness as it
is to help one who is physically
Ill.
The National Institute of
Mental Health at Bethesda,
Nd, under the direction of DR..
Robert Felix, is sponsoring 80
different studies dealing with
various aspects of mental
health Of school children. The
Institute is supported by the
Federal Government as part
of the Nationwide research
progam in health now in
progress.
Vast Increase
Ten years ago 50 million was
allotted for school mental
health studies. This year it has
jumped to $68 million. Studies
are under way in scores of the
Nations major universities.
from Harvard to Stanford.
Special attention is being paid
to child-family and teacher
community relations.
What causes temper tant-
runs? Why does Johnny go to
pieces on his college board
exam? Why are Mary and her
Mother constantly screaming at
each other? Why is Jane
moody and withdrawn? Why is
once-happy Ellen aimless and
drifting into despair? Or why
does bright Jimmy find it i'm
possible to learn to read?
These, and a host of other
problems that are found in
large numbers of families in
all parts of the country, are
being CAREFUL scrutinized.
Cover Many Topics
Here are some Of the mental
health studies supported by the
institute:
Measurement of test anxiety
in children.
Fear, aggression and depend
ency in childhood.
The psychological impact Of
school experience.
10. changes from pre-school
to adulthood.
Psychological development of
aggressive behavior.
Relation Of family patterns
to child behavior disorders.
Underachievement and per-
sonality In bright children.
1t will take some time-per-
hapS decadeS-before the full
implication Of the present stud
les are known. But in the
meantime, the psychologists
urge that teachers, parents and
citizens generally ecome
aware Of the grave problems
that now exist.
Authorities at the National
Institute of Mental Health esti-
mate that so per cent of all
children attending school will
need some kind of psychiatric
help before they complete their
schooling. Most of them will
not get it. And many, as a
result. will end up in mental
institutions.
One out of 10 children has
serious mental problems and
should get immediate help. Un-
fortunately, there are not |
enotigh qualified or competent
psychiatrists or psychologists
to help these disturbed boys
and girls. Moreover, the pres
ent high cost of medical help
for these youngsters make as
sistance of any kind prohibitive
for large numbers of families.
Source of Trouble
DR.. Felix, a noted authority
in the field of mental health,
said in an exclusive interview
that it is not easy to deal with
the personal aspects of peoples
lives. If your neighbor, he OBJ
served, contracted cancer, you
would give him all kinds of
assistance and sympathy. But
If you heard him talking to
God" how would you react?
Would you offer him help?
Indeed, would you let your
children play with his chill
dren?
At present, mental illness
has become an expensive head
ache for the Nation. Some So
billion a year is spent, directly
and indirectly. by States and
the Federal Government in
this area. New York State, for
example, spends one-third of
It's total health budget to help
people with mental or emo
tional disorders.
This is major health
problem in the country" said
DR.. Felix. Many States are
on the verge of bankruptcy as
result of the funds they
spend for mental health pro-
grams"