The Goderich Signal-Star, 1972-10-26, Page 24PAGE )l,
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SIAL -STAR. THHVRSi1'AVtl Or TOBER 26. 1972
A daylong workshop - "What
Cont,munity Mental Health" -
was held last week at Goderieh
?syyhiatric Hospital. interested
Persons from the district atten-
ded the session to hear the
speakers and to ,join in the free-
wheeling discussions.
Those who took part were Dr.
M.F. Conlon, superintendent of
QPH= Dr. M. Lemieux, Medical
Director. Hamilton Psychiatric
-hospital;',, Mrs. Shirley
Holloway, Director of Social
Service, Oxford Mental Health
Centre, Woodstock; Dr. H.
Mountain, program director,
Western Ontario Therapeutic
Community, Hostel, London;
Miss Sandra Malabar, super-
visor, P ublic Health Nursing for
Huron Clarity,
Goderich; and`
De. L. Tauber, psychologist,
Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital.
The following are the remarks
of Miss Malabar in connection
with the subject of the
workshop:
At the outset of this paper, I
would like to state a personal
belief. That is, every person has
a right to obtain physical and
mental health services. Mental
health, however, 'cannot be
separated from physical health.
The two are interdependent. I
am going to.quote to you a por-
tion of Bill 65 of the National
Assembly of Quebec. It is am-
bitious and elusive, but it should
be our goal.
"....improve the. state of the.
health of the population, the
state of the social environment
in which they live and the social
conditions of individuals,
families and groups;....
"—make accessible to every
persori, continuously and
throughout his lifetime, the com-
plete range of. health services
and social services, including
prevention and rehabilitation,,to
meet the needs of individuals,
families and groups from a
physical, mental and . social
standpoint;:.:.
"—every person has the right '
to receive adequate, continuous
and personal health services
arid social services.,..
"-°health services and social
services must be granted
withoutdiscrimination or
preferences based on the race,
colour, sex, religion, language,
national extraction, social
origin, customs or political con-
victions of the person ,applying
for them or of the members of
• his family".
Unfortunately, from the point
of view of the consumer ... the
community, we frequently hear
of people crying out for help,
help for themselves, help for
their families, help for their
friends or acquaintances. The
plea comes in the form of
anxiety, frustration and anger.
People do not know where to
turn. We must find ways of
listening so that our services,
which we are so willing to give,
are meeting their needs.
We, as professional people,
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are being forced by public
opinion and currently by gover-
nment legislation; to revamp
and re -think through. • our
present health delivery system.
Therefore, when considering
community. mental health, let us
think of the recipient. What doe
he want? What are his needs?
Why doesn't he know how to get
help? John ohn Hastings submitted
the how famous "Hastings
Report" on July 21, 1972 to the
Honourable John. Munro,
Minister of National Health and
Welfare.. The paragraph
following is from this report un-
der the heading Mental Health.
I believe this indicates the im-
portance of community in-
volvemerit:
- "The Community Health Cen-
tre, by involving the public . in
using the multi -disciplinary
team, including the clinical
psychologist and other mental
health personnel, provides a set-
ting in which there can be a
greater emphasis on the psycho-
social aspects of care. A health
services system makes the wider
involvement of all the com
munity's potential "front-line"
mental health resources (clergy,
teachers, police, recreation coun-,
sellors, voluntary agencies and
Kingsbridge
Congratulations to Mr. and
Mrs. Cletus Dalton (Mary
Louise Simpson) on the arrival
of their first child, a daughter
born on Thursday, October 19 in
.the Wingham and District
Hospital.
Mr, and Mrs. Arnold Mar-
sman and, family of London
were weekend visitors with Mrs.
Dennis Dalton. '
A new portable classroom
arrived at St. Joseph's school
last Thursday. It ,will be oc-
cupied by grade four. It is the
second portable to be set' up at
` the sc►oo1..-
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Van Osch
spent the past week on holidays
by travelling .to. Kentucky and
other parts of the States.
Are you interested in seeing
news from your community ap-
pearing regularly in your local
paper? It has been difficult
lately picking ups news for the
paper and it would be easier if
you would please call me at
524-7441 with ' any news you
may have, instead of me trying
to contact you for news. ,
Benny Miltenburg was admit-
ted to the Wingham hospital on
Saturday evening.
Gary Courtney, who was ad-
mitted = to , the Kincardine
Hospital following a car ac-
cident a week ago Saturday, has
returned home from the
hospital..
HOs
ospital.-
HOs Ita
Auxiliary
S,j
the public themselves) easier to
achieve. However, consultant
mental health teams and ser-
vices must continue to provide
for referral and for support of
community health centres and
other basic care settings."
s, This. gives us some guidelines
to consider when approaching
the topic Community Mental
Health.
Our Health Unit has initiated
a series of discussions or classes
entitled Family Health. The
adult educational classes are
being givep in four high schools
in the county under the auspices
of the Huron County Board of
Education. The purpose of this
series is to have a free flow of
discussion on pertinent topics.
--One area _ .too re covered -is-
alcoholism and drugs. Back-up
consultants from the Alcoholism
and Drug Addiction Research
Foundation will be present.
Another area that we are con-
cerned with is ' the elderly.'
Huron County has a very high
proportion of persons over 65
years, 11.4% as compared to the
national average of 7.7% . This
brings along another set of
problems, those of the ed. We
inaugurated thin sumer a
geriatric home visiting
programme. One of our
registered nurses visited
throughout the county. As she
talked to these persons in their
homes it became apparent that
the Health Unit could devote a
profitable afternoon a month to
these folk. Consequently,. in five
areas throughout the county, we
have invited all adults to come
to our health centres. We offer
them a certain amount of health
surveillance, urinalysis, blood
pressure, etc., but more impor-
tant'they are invited that after-
noon to get together .in groups
and to discuss common
problems such as budgeting,
pensions and loneliness.
Someone is there to give them
gi1 dance, and counsel if it is
needed. Our air, is to give, these
people a sense of importance,
worth and 'wellbeing. Perhaps
orie could say it is the com-
munity helping the community,
as we encourage them to drive
or fetch one .another.
It is agreed that one of the
chief aims of any Community
Jim, Bird
.„,
A large number of members of
the Hospital Auxiliary arid
several guests had a conducted
tour of Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital at the October
meeting.
Hospital personnel acted as
guides and willingly answered
questions about equipment and
services offered in all depart-
ments.
The women gained a great
deal of information which will
be useful in their work with the
hospital .
The president, Mrs. J. Berry,
presided for the business
meeting. She explained the -work
of the organization for the
benefit of the guests. The
treasurer, Mrs. J. McLaren gave
a resume' of hospital equipment
purchased by the Auxiliary in
the past years.
It was announced that Margo
Bettger was the recipient of
engraved surgical scissors as a
gift from the Auxiliary to a for-
mer candystriper who is
registered in a school of nursing.
Coffee was served at the close
of the meeting.
The Township Of
E�St Wawanosh
'•AN IMPORTANT NOTICE
TO THE RA1EPAYERS
At thw `pr4sent time,. It would appear that in order to
recelvs (till benefit Und r the nevi Ontario Property Tax
.
CMR Piar'f, 1072 taxes marst be paid'' In full by Decent -
r' 3f, 102.
Alex Mdgurney,
Treasurer.
a good
know.
Mental Health programme ,is to
find the people who are having'
difficulties and cannot cope
adequately with everyday life.
They needs,,, support before `they
break down, Who is able to find
these people? 1. answer
unequivocally one of our best
sources is the public . health
nurse. She is hivolved with the
entire family from seeing the ex-
pectant ' parent,— new- -infant;
school child and adult.. The
public health nurse always has
an entree into the homes of the
community. A great deal of her
time is involved in seeing people
in the family setting. However,
the role of the public health
"nurse is changing. Her method
of referral and the lines of com-
munication are becoming less
distinct. This is inevitable as
agenci, s take on new program-
mes and more community
projects are started. There also
are more para -medical workers
in the health field. In the past,
refers is were to the fa y doc-
' tor. Fie was.' the panacea for
solving ou,r health and social
problems. Not so now. Things
are much iniore complicated. Let
me giv'e y0ti' an example. Where
does the llppblic health nurse
turnto l',, ,hen she finds a
situatjon j,i a this?
"A 'moth 'i" calls the nurse in
desperation' She needs a
homemaker in the home while
she is hospitalized for high
blood pressrure. She states the
night jOreviious her husband was
picke;tiip'ly police for drunken-
ness mid 'ltisorderly conduct. In
tears l e,''tstates her teenaged
daughter 'leas just told her that'
she is pre'nant and the nurse
knows that her son is a.
behaviour��problem at home arid
at school.?�a
' Dogs file nurse turn to the
police; guidance counsellor,
family; ,guidance
or the Children's
Aid Society?
When. considering community
mental ihealth, we must strive
for a ' more co-ordinated ap-
proach,�<<n the case mentioned
above 'dr'''.in all multi-�problem
familieS, , a multi -community
team ,',approach would be
beneficial. This team would be
comprf, ;OI ,of the Children's Aid
Society+ `'the psychiatric hospital,
the c;q"r imunity hospital, the
to
board of education, social and
family services and the health
unit. It would appear that the
community approach would
avoid fragmentation and over-
lapping. This group effort would
not be sponsored by any one
agency but have equal par-
ticipation by all who attend.
The care worker would be
derided upon and would have
pp
':the support -of =the -team.---. _ ...�
Huron County is a small.
county of 52,000 persons and an
area of . approximately 1,300
square miles. Because of this, we
should be more aware of what
the other agencies . are doing. l
think we do but frequently, one
agency is oblivious to new
programmes of another. Dr.
Hudson, the psychiatrist here,
stated recehtly that we must" all
learn to communicate more ef-
fectively with one another,
professional with professional
and professional with the non=
professional.
In closing r would like" to
refer back to Bill a5 when it
who fear drugs or delinquency
or a contact for lonely. people?
2. -Do we need day care centre
for working mothers at a price
they can afford?
3. Do we need more contact
with the O.P.P. and local police?
In Toronto there is a
programme whereby trained
volunteers travel at night with
the police as the majority ' of
speaks .of--prev'etttion+ _, L . woitid� " their calls. are 'from the lonely, -
desperate or family quarrels.
4. Can we challenge our youth,
for service in the community
and provide them with simple
basic training? Let me give you
an example. A group of parents
of children with leanning
like to throw out these ideas and"
would welcome comments,
L Are stress centres needed?
A place or group or phone num-
ber where people could receive
guidance as to abortions, or help
for parents of estranged children
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disabilities ran an ad in a
Toronto paper asking for 80
volunteer teenagers to help
these children with their reading
problems. They stated each
teenager would be given simple
training. They had ' over 250
replies.
5. How about our over 65 age
group? Could they help staff the
„flay care centre&, but again if we
are to take it all seriously,
,shouldn't we offer them some
kind of instructions?
What is Community Mental
Health? It is a greater under-
standing, ,awareness and in-
volvement with one another in
the community.
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You've probably met Jim Bird. At the Lions Club or
other local organizations. Jim's an active participant
in them because, as manager of the Goderich Royal
Bank, he is vitally concernedin the well-being of the
community -- and its people. So, if you need extra
cash for something worthwhile, need • help in
arranging your finances, or just need a friend to help
you sort things out -- drop .in to the' Royal and say
hello to Jim Bird. Helping people is his job. That's
why he's a good man to know.
Community Corner
Regular luncheon to be held in St. George's Parish
.Hall last Friday each month. 12:00. to 1:30. Price
X1.50..
Boy Scout Apple Day, October 27th and 28th.
Taylor's Corner 'Community Club Bazaar,Satur-
day, October ,28 at, MacKay, Hall.
Turkey Supper — Victoria $l. United Church. Nov.
1, 1972 at 6:30 p.m.
St. George's ACW folk singing concert, November
5, 1972.
Bazaar & Bake Sale, Wednesday, November,45,
Holmesville United Church:-
"SnowflakeBazaar" held by the Ladies Legion
Auxiliary, November 16, 1972.
Bingo every Saturday at Goderich Legion Hall.,
Santa Clause Parade - Dec.. 2,
t*i ROYAL BAN K
serving Ontario
GODERICH,,,S244312
Charlie
s is involvec
He doesn't want to stand,on a ribbon cutting, hand shaking, flag
waving campaign — that's for the birds. Charlie wants a better
Huron Riding and he means it. He's a digger not a scratcher. He'll
discover those area problems and he'll meet the people concerned
face to face to discuss them. And he's not afraid of getting hit
,boots dirty, if,itsgoing to promote Huron and Middlesex.
He's a member of the Tax Review Committee of County Council
and a member of the Social Services Committee.. He belongs to
many Federal and Procincial animal 'breeding associations. He's
served on the Regional Development Council for eight years
latterly as vice-president and he's served on the Huron Planning
Board, — last year as chairman.
Charlie is a farmer and understands farming problems. He's
convinced that the sugar beet' industry could be revived in Huron
"The Land is Strong"
7/ft
aro
Rbihg
and Middlesex. He feels there are better ways of marketing corn
in peak periods and he'd like'to'encourage more Canadian farmers
to become involved in livestock breeding.
And Charlie will fight for other benefits, too. For instance, he'd
like more area development, he believes in GoderialiHarbor as a
potential Great Lakes port, he feels that Sky Harbor airport
should ,be maintained and would'ight fora subsidy, if necessary.
Stimulation of local industry is another key issue Charlie believes
in. He wants to give incentives to. light industry to boost local
economy. And 'he wants to`makesure the 'brains' of Huron and
Middlesex stay in Huron Riding instead of heading 'south.or to
the cities.
A better Huron Riding is worth fighting for. Charlie Thomas is a
fighter.'
X10
. PublishodMByr The Huron Liberal Association
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