The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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24 The Health Bulletin March, 1927
to himself." We still proceed much on
that theory. Wonderful progress has
been made in checking physical ills
within the life of the present generation,
and more is due to he made. The
average span of human life has been
greatly lengthened by teaching the prevention
of disease. The secretary of
the State Board of Health, in a New
Year message to the peojile of North
Carolina, invoked the aid of all health
agencies and all civic agencies of whatever
name or denomination, to unite
their forces to "reduce mortality, lessen
morbidity, and prevent disease." By
way of New Year resolves it is suggested
that each member of the family
l>e examined by the family physician to
determine defects, if any, and correct
them to prevent serious trouble later
that all possible be done to prevent the
spread of communicable disease by the
use of vaccine and such other safeguards
as are recognized by health
authorities.
Is it possible to educate the people
in the principles of mental health as
they are being educated in the principles
of physical health Some of the
psychiatrists believe something can be
done in that direction. It is not claimed,
of course, that it will be possible to prevent
and cure mental disease with the
success that is being demonstrated in
bodily ills. But it is maintained that
information as to the principles of mental
diseases could be given to the public
in such manner as would change the
attitude toward mental ills, which
would result in earlier attention to the
patient, with the checking of numerous
obvious dangers. First there should be
removed, under the process of education,
the false tradition, coming down
throuirh the ages, that mental sickness
is a disgrace, a curse of God. It is less
disgrace to be mentally sick, declares
a psychiatrist, "than to have typhoid
fever or any other preventable disease,
because we do not know how to prevent
mental sickness as we do typhoid
fever" or other physical ills for which
preventive remedies have been found;
and wherever a physical disease exists
that could be prevented, there is the
disgrace of neglect.
When one is known to be mentally ill,
is so recognized by his family and his
friends, nothing is done about it unless
the sick man is troublesome. The Daily
News discussed editorially recently the
case of the man from another state,
arrested in Greensboro for a double
murder committed in the state whence
he came. It was stated that members
of his family knew he was mentally
unbalanced, but they thought it was
better for him to have freedom than
to be confined. He killed two people.
If he had been given attention he might
not have been helped, but two lives
would have been saved. These cases
occur often, more frequently than the
public know. Sometimes the disease is
not detected until the outbreak occurs.
Often it is, but out of consideration for
the patient and the feeling that the
family is disgraced by a case of mental
illness, nothing is done until the patient
becomes unmanageable. The family and
the public are subjected to serious
menace. The diseased mind may at any
moment, so far as the laity know, convert
an apparently peaceable citizen
into a raving madman. Thus are
families killed and public safety endangered
as the result of a maniac at
large.
Would it not be possible to so teach
the principles of mental health that
some might be saved Certainly it
seems reasonable that it might be done
to an extent that would gradually
eliminate the foolish tradition of disgrace,
and that at least would make
for the safety of the families of the
mentally sick and the safety of the
public as well. We are doing little now
except provide places of detention and
care for the mentally ill. That is necessary,
and the mentally sick need much
more than they get. But if, as in the
case of the physically ill, there could
be examination and treatment before
disease became serious, might it not
be checked Our attitude is such that
we would seriously resent a suggestion
that we undergo a mental examination.
That is considered a serious reflection.
But why should we not be as much
concerned about our mental health as
we are about our physical health Of
course our mental health is more important
even than our physical health.
Then why guard the one and neglect the
other Greensboro Daily News.