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80
PARK VIEW THERAPEUTIC CLUB.
This club the chief purpose of which is the rehabilitation within
the community of persons whose mental illness has for a time deprived them
of normal social intercourse-now boasts some 50 members.
They select their own committee of management, and hold regular
social evenings, dances and other normal club functions.
Some assistance and support is given by Mr. Steadman and the Duly
Authorized Officers, and these members of the Mental Health Service staff
are to be complimented on their deep sense of duty and humanity in giving
so much of their leisure time to the smooth running of the club.
The Mayor and members of the Health Committee have also on occasion
attended the club, and their visits have been warmly appreciated by the
members.
SECTIONS 28 and 51.
The plans for the provision of a second occupation centre for mental
defectives remain as detailed on page 54 of the report for 1949.
The time has come when serious consideration should be given to the
provision of additional accommodation for the community care of mental
defectives in an occupation centre.
A number of defectives await urgent admission, and their parents
experience Increasing difficulty in occupying them throughout the day.
Each case in fact presents two problems, to relieve the parents for
some part of each day of the burden of constant supervision of the child,
and to teach the child the elements of socialization. And both problems
are solved by daily admission to an occupation centre.
I have attempted to place some of these children in centres In
neighbouring boroughs, without success, so that we must seek, either to
expand our own premises at Katherine Road, or find a suitable site for
a new building.