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There are two particular aspects of community mental health which might be mentioned in this context.
About 5,000 people succeed in killing themselves by suicide every year in England and Wales. Almost six times
as many again make some suicidal attempt on their own lives. The comparative yearly figures for Haringey are
41, 30 males and 11 females. The considerable burden thrown on the many agencies trying to deal with this
problem and the unnecessary wastage of human life could be curbed if appropriate community facilities under
medical direction were in existence to recognise, supervise and treat mental illnesses as these appear in the
community, for mental disorders are the main cause of consummated suicide and suicidal attempts.
Unfortunately, the breakaway of mental health social work from health departments will make the establishment
of such a preventive scheme impossible.
The other point to consider is that of drug dependants which as I see it, can be tackled more successfully by a
community-based approach.
There were 123 out-patient and 19 in-patient notifications to us of Haringey residents being "hard" drug
addicts during the year which may even constitute an under-estimate as not all drug dependant persons are
known to the various official bodies and therefore are lost to all census.
The overall yearly figure for England and Wales amounted to over 5,000 drug addicts with a known death rate of
30, 19 males and 11 females. The dangers of even experimenting with habit-forming drugs should be brought
home forcefully to everyone especially young people and school children and advice clinics geared to recognise,
advise and suggest management to those likely to fall prey to the temptation of drugs and to those who have
already succumbed to them. Additionally, the staff should be experienced enough to spot an underlying
personality defect whenever this is the causative factor responsible for the drug dependence. Their management
requires a high degree of expert knowledge which must embody medical, psychiatric and social work expertise
and should be available right where it is required, namely in the community, as very few of these people once
spotted are willing to be sent to any other clinic or department.
In spite of my gloomy forebodings one hopes that a true interest in the welfare of the mentally afflicted will
prevail and future approaches shaped in the light of the real needs of the patient.
Vaccination against Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Measles
The following tables record the number of persons under the age of 16 known to have received a primary course,
or reinforcing dose during the year by general practitioners or clinic staff.