London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1968

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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Raydon (Camden)1
Marlborough Hill (Harrow)1
Blackfriars1
Crossways1

Beauchamp Lodge Social Club, 2 Warwick Crescent. W.2
This establishment is run by a voluntary organisation and financial assistance is given by the
City Council. Mental health social workers arrange for patients to attend the two clubs and assist
with functions. Meetings are held on two afternoons each week and an average of 30 patients
continue to attend and derive great benefit (1967—30). The objects of the club are to provide
facilities for social communication, to encourage its expression and to provide a focal point for
people living in isolation. In addition, an evening club has been opened for subnormal patients
which is much appreciated by all who attend.
GENERAL

Application and re-approval of medical practitioners for the purposes of section 28 of the Mental Health Act:

ApprovedRe-approved
196851
196727

Mental Health Week—10th-14th June, 1968
During Mental Health Week, Linnet House, Edgson House, Frances House and St. Judes Hostel
were open to the public each day during normal working hours. Films on mental disorders were
shown by members of the Health Department staff at the Salvation Army Regents Hall, Oxford
Street, W.1, and the City Council is grateful for the assistance readily given by this organisation.
On one evening a public meeting was held at the Ebury Bridge maternal and child welfare centre
in connection with the proposed hostel for the mentally ill in Cambridge Street, S.W.1.
Additional activities during this Week included a wine and cheese party held at the Terrace Day
Centre, which proved to be a most enjoyable occasion. On one afternoon a meeting was held
at the City Hall at which films were displayed dealing with various mental health topics, and which
was well attended by consultant psychiatrists, medical social workers and officers from voluntary
organisations.
The whole programme proved to be a successful contribution to the national efforts in Mental
Health Week.
THE TERRACE DAY CENTRE
Report for 1968
(by Dr. R. A. Stewart, Medical Officer in Charge of the Centre)
The year 1968 was one of expansion in our endeavours to help the mentally ill to take a place
in the community.
My definition of Mental Health is to feel wanted, to have a sense of belonging, to feel part of
society, to have a sense of usefulness and to feel comfortable and confident in the business of
living.
It is towards this ideal that the staff at the Terrace set themselves.
The mentally ill individual usually has a sense of feeling different from other people and in many
types of mental disorder the individual is actually rejected by his or her relatives and contacts.
There is an innate fear of mental disorder in the community and this fear leads to many social
problems in the treatment and prevention of mental breakdown.
The Institute of Social Psychiatry has been concerned with these problems for many years and
the Institute was appointed by the City of Westminster to act as agent in the management of the
Terrace Day Centre.