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only is the mental welfare officer able to advise on after care facilities, etc., but valuable
contact is made with the patients at an early stage.
The fieldwork in connection with the after care of the mentally ill is carried out
by the following officers who were on the staff of the Department at the end of the
year:—
1 Chief Mental Welfare Officer.
1 Senior Mental Welfare Officer.
4 Mental Welfare Officers.
1 Mental Health Social Worker.
The offices are open from Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and Thursday
and Friday 8.45 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Outside these hours and at weekends a rota
arrangement for urgent calls is organised.
I have had the benefit of valuable advice and help from Dr. Alfred Torrie, M.A.,
M.B., Ch.B., D.P.M., who has held weekly "in service training" sessions for mental
welfare officers.
From the 1st April, 1965, until 31st December, 1965, mental welfare officers made
a total of 726 home visits and approximately 100 office interviews were held during the
same period.
The total number of mentally ill persons residing in the community and under
care as at the 31st December, 1965, was 76 i.e. 8 males and 68 females. The reason for
the considerably higher number of females receiving after care at the end of the year
is due to the fact that males discharged from hospital seem to settle down to community
life much quicker than females. Males develop outside interests through their employment,
etc., whereas the females often return home, to the same environment from
which they were admitted and need more support in seeking outside interests. Furthermore
there is a higher percentage of elderly females than elderly males in the Borough.
Referrals to the Mental Health Service
During 1965 reports were received under Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944,
as amended by the Mental Health Act, 1959, regarding three children who were found
unsuitable for education at school.
Information was also received about seven educationally sub-normal children who
required supervision after leaving school.
Community care of the subnormal and severely subnormal
Supervision in the Home
With support from social workers and health visitors many subnormal and severely
subnormal patients of all ages are able to live satisfactorily in the community. It is
essential that they and their parents are able to obtain assistance with their problems
and this is readily available through visiting officers. I have had the benefit of specialist
advice on individual patients from Dr. D. Watterson, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.
The total number of subnormal and severely subnormal persons under community
care at the end of 1965 was 225. This does not include those patients placed in residential
accommodation under Guardianship and Informal Foster Care arrangements.
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