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COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
In the Annual Report for 1958 It was recorded that much thought and consideration
was being given to the future pattern of the mental health services by the appropriate
officers of the Department. Reports on community care and occupation centre developments
were submitted to the Health Committee in November, 1959- It is not proposed on this
occasion to re-issue the contents of these full and detailed reports, but instead to discuss
the matter in more general terms and to underline some of the fundamental principles on which
the Mental Health Community Care Service in West Ham will be based.
An efficient Local Authority Mental Health Service is dependent upon (a) hospital
facilities; (b) adequate local training facilities, and (c) capable and experienced officers.
All these three requisites are available for the benefit of residents in West Ham. In the
light of the Report for the Royal Commission on the Law Relating to Mental Illness and Mental
Deficiency, and also of the Younghusband Report on Social Work, it was appreciated that even
more could be done. A Community Care Service involves more than the efficient dispatch of
mentally disturbed patients to hospital, or the provision of training facilities. It is,
in fact, a dedicated approach to ensure that those members of the community who, though
suffering from mental disorder, can and are maintained in the community when it is in their
best interests. A person suffering from mental disorder does not exist in a vacuum. He
or she is usually a member of a family group, and his disability has repercussions on the
other members of the family. In addition, experience has shown that such patients
frequently face difficulties, and on occasions cause difficulties outside the home, e.g.
work and in society. The handling of such situations requires specialist skill and advice.
In making plans for the future pattern of the Community Mental Health Services in West
Ham, it has been decided to base the services on a strong team of skilled social workers.
The members of the team should combine the case-work approach of the psychiatric social
worker with the practical and procedural abilities of the mental welfare officer. Arrangements
have been made for the recruitment and training of these skilled social workers.
The Department has been very fortunate to secure the services of Dr. J.H. Kahn who, in
addition to the responsibilities of Medical Director of the local Child Guidance Clinic, has
accepted a part-time appointment with the local authority to act as an advisor on Community
Health Services, and to have special responsibilities for the direction of the clinical work
in the Mental Health Service and for the training of social workers.
The Mental Health Act, 1959> has entrusted responsibility for community care and after
care to the local health authorities. These authorities have a long tradition as exponents
of preventive medicine. It is intended to marry both prevention and the case-work approach
in the West Ham Community Mental Health Services. It is felt that the health visitor can
make an Important contribution towards the promotion of mental health by her important work
with mothers and young children. There is a great deal of evidence to support the viewpoint
that a child who Is brought up In a happy atmosphere where he receives love, affection and
stability, will have a greater chance of developing Into a mature adult who will be able to
resist the trains and stresses of the modern world.
In the preceding paragraphs the Important role of the Health Department and hospitals
in the Community Mental Health Service have been outlined, but it should not be thought
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