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APPENDIX B
REPORT OF A STUDY GROUP ON PREVENTIVE
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MATERNITY AND
CHILD WELFARE SERVICE
1. The Medical Officer of Health decided in July, 1953, to set up a Study Group
to investigate the possibility of increasing preventive mental health work in the Maternity
and Child Welfare service and invited Dr. John Bowlby, Tavistock Clinic, to head it.
This Study Group consisted of professional staff of the Public Health Department of
the London County Council and of the Tavistock Clinic.*Regular weekly meetings
were held over a period of six months and the conclusions of the group are presented
in the report which follows. The report was edited by Dr. Wilfrid G. Harding; its
findings do not necessarily express the views and the policy of the London County
Council.
2. The Report for 1952 of the Central Health Services Council contained the
following recommendations:
Preventive psychiatry
Further consideration was given to this subject during the year, in relation more
particularly to childhood. It was felt that there were in mental illness certain predisposing
factors, i.e., heredity, personal relationships (especially during childhood
and adolescence), emotional, economic and physical stresses, in regard to which
preventive measures could be organised. In so far as many of the conditions originated
in the early years of life, it was advisable that they should be treated before patterns
of behaviour became set. The Committee accepted the recommendations of the
Expert Committee on Mental Health of the World Health Organisation regarding
'the desirability of concentrating especially on the therapeutic and preventive
psychiatry of childhood' and endorsed its opinion that the application of preventive
hygiene measures has particular value during the period of infancy and childhood.
The Committee believed that there was great need for the spread of information
about the principles of mental health, especially among those whose work brings
them constantly into contact with large groups of the community, e.g., maternity
and child welfare personnel. The Minister was advised: 'That it is desirable that
the Maternity and Child Welfare Service should give more attention to mental
health
It is to the implementation of these proposals within the County of London that
the Study Group has addressed itself.
*Membership of the Study Group
L.C.C. Dr. D. F
Dr. G. D. Pirrie Principal Medical Officers
Dr. H. G. Williams— Psychiatrist (deceased)
Dr. F. R. Waldron— Divisional Medical Officer
Dr. W. G. Harding— Deputy Divisional Medical Officer
Dr. E. Chappie
Dr. M. S. Gillatt
Dr. S. B. Moss-Morris Medical Officers
Dr. A. A. V. Smyth
Miss F. A. Carter
Miss K. J Carden
Mrs. D E. Marrin Health visitors
Miss M. M. Oldfield J
Tavistock
Clinic Dr. J. Bowlby
Dr. M. Mackenzie
Mrs. E. Irvine—Psychiatric Social Worker
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