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54
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Under the Mental Health Act 1959 and the Health Services
and Public Health Act 1968, local authorities are empowered to
provide community care for persons who are suffering from mental
disorder, a generic term which includes mental illness, arrested
or incomplete development of mind, psychopathic disorder and any
other disorder or disability of mind. The Mental Health Act 19'59
gives wide powers for authorities to deal with the care and aftercare
of such persons and indicates that authorities should provide
the following;
1. Appointment of officers to act as mental welfare
officers.
2. Centres or other facilities for training or
occupation for the mentally ill and mentally
subnormal.
3. Equipment of residential accommodation for the
mentally handicapped and mentally ill.
The local authority also has responsibility in relation to persons
placed under guardianship, in accordance with the Mental Health Act.
Mental Welfare Officers
It is pleasing to report that during 1970 the staffing position
in the mental health section improved,, Two members returned to duty
after having successfully completed the Certificate in Social Work
course. The position now is that 50 per cent of the mental health
social workers are professionally qualifiedo
As the section became fully staffed it was possible to have
greater liaison with general practitioners and consultant psychiatrists,
with the result that more cases were referred for care and after-care.
Special emphasis was placed on offering a supportive casework and
preventive service. 778 referrals were made,, which is 60 per cent
more than the previous year. Arising out of this, 3754 visits were
made to mentally ill persons and their families, compared with 2464
in 1969. Mental health social workers attended out-patient clinics
and hospitals on 209 occasions. At these sessions the mental health