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understand that their personal involvement and co-operation is of great importance.
Secondly, the facial pattern of the immigrant differs from that of Europeans,
especially among the people of African origin, and the orthodontist has to be very
alert to these difficulties and to modify any preconceived notions about the ideal
facial and dental pattern accordingly.
Although the average immigrant's attitude to appointment keeping is rather
lackadaisical, both children and mothers make co-operative and grateful patients.
MENTAL HEALTH
The impression is that the incidence of mental illness among Asian immigrants
is no higher in proportion to that amongst the remainder of the population. We do not
however have any figures to confirm this because of lack of uniformity in referrals.
During the year ended 31st December, 1966, 941 patients were referred, of which 47
were Indians or Pakistanis and 23 were West Indians. It is suspected that mentally
ill relatives are contained longer within their own community than is the case with
English people. When mental illness is found, it may present florid and bizarre
symptoms not usually seen in our culture. During the year ended 31st December, 1966,
there were 61 severely sub-normal children referred, of which 7 were Indian or
Pakistani, and 4 were West Indian.
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