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An approach to community mental health
54
PUBLIC
HEALTH
VOL.
LXXVII
NO.
I
BOOK REVIEWS MENTAL HOSPITALS A T W O R K . By K A T H L E E N JONES and R o Y S I D E B O T H g M. (Pp. X + 210. Price s 10s.) London, Routledge and Kegan Paul. 1962. L I V I N G W I T H M E N T A L I L L N E S S . By E N I D M I L L S . Pp. xii-}184. Price s 8s.) London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1962. PSYCHOLOGICAL I L L N E S S . By E. J. R. PRIMROSE, B.SC., M.D. (Pp. vii + 60. Price 15s.) London, Tavistock Publications, 1961. AN
APPROACH TO COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH. By G E R A L D C A P L A N, M.D., D.P.M. (Pp. ix + 262. Price s 5s.) London, Tavistock Publications, 1961.
All of these books give evidence of the increasing interest in mental problems which is widespread at the present time; and as the first of them is by a Lecturer in Social Administration and a Professor of Accountancy, and the second is by a Sociologist they show that interest is not confined to the medical profession. The authors of the first book are concerned with measurement of the efficiency of mental hospitals, while at the same time recognizing the changes which those institutions are undergoing, and the greater emphasis that is now being laid on community care and the ways in which the family is involved. The second book is a study, in the East end of London, of the parts played by these two agencies in the life of the patient, who is increasingly being considered as a member of the community, and less as an individual in isolation. "Psychological Illness" is a study by a general practitioner of a Scottish community among whom he practices and of whose affairs he has intimate knowledge. His conclusion is that "the general practitioner is in the most advantageous position for dealing with disturbed human relationships of psychogenic origin, and he should be trained to make the most of his position". Professor Caplan's approach is to the preventive aspect, and here again the importance of the influence of the community and of the family is stressed and the place of the family doctor is emphasized. THE BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. FRIEND OR FRANKENSTEIN? By Dr. D O N A L D M C I . J O H N S O N , M.P. (Pp. 234. Price s ls.) London: Johnson Publications Ltd., 1962. Dr. Johnson, the son of a general practitioner, was himself in general practice, is now a Member of Parliament, and has followed carefully from the start the fortunes of the National Health Service. He finds much to criticise not only from the standpoint of the patient and doctor, but also on administrative and financial grounds ; and he does not spare politicians or political parties. Nor does he give medical officers of health, or the authorities which employ them, any grounds for feeling complacent. He does not, however, restrict himself to destructive criticism; but has definite proposals for reform, in which decentralization has an important part to play. He suggests that the present Minister of Health in dealing with "the relentless monster of incompatible strains and stresses" should summon to his aid resources of goodwiU which are at present being thwarted by the "straitjacket in which the Service is o.peratin~."
PUBLIC
HEALTH
VOL.
LXXVII
NO.
I
BOOK REVIEWS MENTAL HOSPITALS A T W O R K . By K A T H L E E N JONES and R o Y S I D E B O T H g M. (Pp. X + 210. Price s 10s.) London, Routledge and Kegan Paul. 1962. L I V I N G W I T H M E N T A L I L L N E S S . By E N I D M I L L S . Pp. xii-}184. Price s 8s.) London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1962. PSYCHOLOGICAL I L L N E S S . By E. J. R. PRIMROSE, B.SC., M.D. (Pp. vii + 60. Price 15s.) London, Tavistock Publications, 1961. AN
APPROACH TO COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH. By G E R A L D C A P L A N, M.D., D.P.M. (Pp. ix + 262. Price s 5s.) London, Tavistock Publications, 1961.
All of these books give evidence of the increasing interest in mental problems which is widespread at the present time; and as the first of them is by a Lecturer in Social Administration and a Professor of Accountancy, and the second is by a Sociologist they show that interest is not confined to the medical profession. The authors of the first book are concerned with measurement of the efficiency of mental hospitals, while at the same time recognizing the changes which those institutions are undergoing, and the greater emphasis that is now being laid on community care and the ways in which the family is involved. The second book is a study, in the East end of London, of the parts played by these two agencies in the life of the patient, who is increasingly being considered as a member of the community, and less as an individual in isolation. "Psychological Illness" is a study by a general practitioner of a Scottish community among whom he practices and of whose affairs he has intimate knowledge. His conclusion is that "the general practitioner is in the most advantageous position for dealing with disturbed human relationships of psychogenic origin, and he should be trained to make the most of his position". Professor Caplan's approach is to the preventive aspect, and here again the importance of the influence of the community and of the family is stressed and the place of the family doctor is emphasized. THE BRITISH NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. FRIEND OR FRANKENSTEIN? By Dr. D O N A L D M C I . J O H N S O N , M.P. (Pp. 234. Price s ls.) London: Johnson Publications Ltd., 1962. Dr. Johnson, the son of a general practitioner, was himself in general practice, is now a Member of Parliament, and has followed carefully from the start the fortunes of the National Health Service. He finds much to criticise not only from the standpoint of the patient and doctor, but also on administrative and financial grounds ; and he does not spare politicians or political parties. Nor does he give medical officers of health, or the authorities which employ them, any grounds for feeling complacent. He does not, however, restrict himself to destructive criticism; but has definite proposals for reform, in which decentralization has an important part to play. He suggests that the present Minister of Health in dealing with "the relentless monster of incompatible strains and stresses" should summon to his aid resources of goodwiU which are at present being thwarted by the "straitjacket in which the Service is o.peratin~."