View report page

Mental Health Week was organised in conjunction with the London
Boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth and the catchment
hospitals, which is undoubtedly a very appropriate way of planning
this kind of venture, the intention of which is to interest the general
public in aspects of Mental Health. It is interesting to observe that
more public interest can be stimulated by discussion on 'mental
disorder' than on 'mental health' and at the present time it seems as
if public and semi-public talks and discussions on drugs will receive
maximum support, even if those attending are unwilling to concede
that this is a mental health problem.
In this Borough drug addiction is not a serious problem and all
instances reported have been helped. It has been possible to provide
expert information and speakers on the subject, where this has been
required.
From time to time Mental Health staff are called upon to speak
on mental health subjects, sometimes at quite short notice and at
other times for occasions booked well in advance. These are excellent
opportunities to help the general public to give sympathetic understanding
to the problems of persons and families involved in mental
disorder and also to enable the public to see that the Mental Welfare
Officer is not primarily concerned with removing people to hospital,
but is more concerned with preventive and supportive work for people
with the object of avoiding the necessity for admission to hospital.
Patients in Hospital
It is known from records maintained by the Mental Health
Service that 241 Merton patients are in long-term care in hospital for
the subnormal and severely subnormal.