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18
the previous four hours only operation. We have recorded 250 new clients in the past year, many of whom
were quickly helped and needed no further lengthy befriending. On the other hand, a fair proportion of
those people we have befriended, have needed our attention for a period of months rather than weeks. Now
we run our own training classes locally, which means that more volunteers are becoming available. However,
our strength remains at about 60, with a constant trickle of people moving out and away from us.
Consequently, it is vital that we find more volunteers generally, and more especially people who can offer time
during the day, so that we can eventually provide a 24-hour service. Although our work may be quantitively
restricted compared with that of other branches we know that we do ease the load that would otherwise fall
on St. Stephen's and Harrow Branches; while qualitatively, we claim high standards.
Many other branches are envious of the links we have with Dr. Dominian at the Central Middlesex
Hospital where we have regular seminars with him, and also with the Brent Council Mental Health Department.
In the local papers one reads regularly of people who commit suicide; unhappily these people never
came to us and by and large we deal with more people who are unhappy for many reasons rather than those
at the brink of suicide. None the less, we are sure that we perform a necessary function in enhancing the
well-being of the community and in preventing many a tragic occurrence."
Approved Medical Practitioners
There are no changes during the year in the list of doctors approved for the purposes of Section 28,
Mental Health Act, 1959.
Drug Abuse and Dependence
For some years past, the Mental Health Division has been alert to this problem and became actively
engaged in this specific field of social work by opening in 1966 a "Walk-in Clinic" at Monks Park, Wembley,
the purpose of which was to give advice to young people dependent upon drugs.
Subsequently, the Probation Officers in the Bjrough approached the Department with the suggestion
of forming a joint special task unit to combat the increasing wave of drug abuse among young people. As a
result a Committee was formed and a group of involved professional workers undertook to serve. Permission
was given to use Kilburn Square Clinic as a "Centre" where young people dependent on drugs and many
on probation could be seen and their needs, psychiatrically and socially assessed. Thus professionally staffed
the centre fulfilled a unique and very necessary function in the field of social medicine. Unfortunately this
service has suffered a temporary setback in the year under review because of the departure of the psychiatrist
to a post outside the Borough and of the loss of the services of the general medical practitioner owing to
indisposition and pressure of work in his own practice. Both these doctors gave their services unstintingly and
voluntarily. Because it was not possible to obtain voluntary professional replacements, financial provision has
now been made for the services of a psychiatrist and general practitioner on the basis of one paid session per
week on a selected evening at Kilburn Square Clinic. The doors of the centre should therefore soon be open
again to these less fortunate members of our community.
The Department has never been complacent about the dangers of drug abuse among our young people
and is aware that it prevails to some degree in the Borough but we have insufficient data as to the actual
size of the problem because of the difficulties of identifying those in need. It is true to say that some young
people are experimenting with drugs but it is equally true to say that fortunately only a very small percentage
of youngsters go beyond the experimental stage to actual drug habituation.
It should not be assumed that because of the temporary closure of Kilburn Square Centre other
work on drug abuse in the Borough has been neglected — far from it in fact; the Department is actively
engaged in serving the needs of those dependent upon drugs not only by advice and support, but also, when
necessary, arranging psychiatric consultation and treatment.
A large part of the work the Department puts into the problem of drugs is largely and rightly of a
preventive nature and includes lectures to school and youth groups, discussions and generally the dissemination
of as much useful information as possible. An example of this kind of effort was when quite recently
a major industrial firm in the Borough invited the attendance of a speaker from the Department to talk on
the subject of drug abuse to apprentices in their factory. These efforts are finding an appreciative and responsive
audience among young people who may be susceptible to the temptations of drugs.
As a realistic and practical Department we are aware of the limitations and the possible dangers of
over-presentation of preventive material, but we do our best to inform and educate whenever and wherever
suitable opportunity arises.
MENTAL SUBNORMALITY
Community Care—Support in the Home
The introductory remarks to the section of this Report dealing with mental illness from the aspects
of social worker involvement in community care has pertinence in major part to the support of the subnormal
and his family.
Leavesden Hospital
During the year under review, public attention became focused on hospitals for the subnormal and
severely subnormal, and, for the first time it seemed, and due to disclosures as to the conditions prevailing
in many of these institutions, public awareness became alerted. This led to the Minister's setting up investigating
bodies to visit and collate information about conditions generally, available facilities and shortcomings,
all with a view to the government's making a full reappraisal of the situation and of the necessity for extra
funds being allocated to improve matters. These investigating teams, quite rightly, found much of which to
be severely critical in our subnormality hospitals.