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68
May - Dental Health
June - Mental Health
July - Home & Water Safety ) With additional
August Holiday Activities ) outside publicity to
stress water safety.
September - Prophylaxis
October r Fire Safety and Fireworks ) With additional
) outside publicity
November - Are you a slave? )to stress oil
December - Good Neighbours ) Heater Safety.
Many ideas and suggestions came from the Panel and wherever possible these were put to
practical use.
HEALTH GET-TOGETHERS FOR OVER 60s
In 1966 two geriatric preventive clinics were set up in the Borough. Arising from this
it was felt that health education sessions specifically directed towards our "senior citizens"
would be useful in attempting to assist our retired persons to obtain more from their retirement.
Three weekly sessions were commenced at Blythe Mansions Welfare Centre, East Islington
Welfare Centre and Pine Street Welfare Centre. The first of these sessions was formally
inaugurated by His Worship the Mayor, Councillor A.E. White, at Blythe Mansions on 27th
September. They proved to be a tremendous success as they not only enabled our older folk
to obtain advice on a varied selection of health and social topics but also enabled a social
discourse to take place which is not always available to the elderly, and thus they had
something to look forward to each week.
SMOKING ADVISORY CLINIC
It is pleasing to note that the smoking advisory clinic continued to function with the
same degree of success. Attendances during 1967 increased slightly. One would, of course,
like to have an even better attendance but it would appear that the public is still apathetic
in its attitude to smoking. A film unit from the American Television Education Service filmed
the proceedings of a typical clinic in progress and this was shown on the American Education
Television Network. In addition film units from the B.B.C. visited the clinic and included
some of its work in a programme on smoking which was featured in the "Horizon" series on
B.B.C.2; subsequently the programme was repeated on B.B.C.1, and aroused much interest and
comment.
MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
Once again the department co-operated in publicising and actively took part in National
Mental Health Week. This year a more ambitious and extensive programme was carried out.
Film Shows with a speaker from the Mental Health Section were given at a number of churches,
and other interested organisations, including The British Legion and The Finsbury Rotary Club,
also accepted these facilities. In addition, many schools were visited for the purpose of
showing a film and receiving a talk on this vital subject. There was also an exhibition of
handwork done by the young men and women who attend our training centres for the mentally
handicapped. This was displayed in the foyer of the Town Hall as well as an exhibition of
"Art Therapy" together with interpretations of art work which is done by the mentally ill at
the Springfield Hospital, Tooting. This aroused much interest and comment from the public who
are now begihning to understand that mental illness is something not to be ashamed of.