Meet the Local Associations
2: Friern Barnet by Mrs. M. E. Haverly (Hon. Sec.) years the National for Mental Health has run courses for chaplains in mental hospitals, and many of these have expressed the value of courses in their parish work. As a result of this, the National Association approached the London Churches' Group, expressing the hope that two pilot schemes might be organised; one south and one north of the river. Miss Proud, the General Secretary of the London Council of Social Service, approached Friern Barnet Council of Social Service with a view to organising the latter. This was the foundation stone of interest in mental health within the district. In conjunction with the Friern Barnet Council of Churches a one-day conference was subsequently held on 2nd June, 1959. Several months were given to planning this conference and invitations were sent to clergy and ministers of all denominations. In the first instance they were sent to the local clergy and gradually extended to clergy of neighbouring districts. several FOR Association
Public
meeting held
Following
this
Friern Barnet
arranged
a
conference,
when the
Council of Churches
public meeting later people attended.
year some 130
in the The
this occasion were a confrom Friern Hospital and Miss F. Dean, Organiser of Mental Deficiency Services at the N.A.M.H. In World Mental Health Year, 1960, all local organisations represented on the Council of Social Service, together withi many individuals likely to be interested were invited to attend a meeting to discuss and make plans for Mental Health Week. Although Friern Barnet is a comparatively small district it is well known for its community
speakers sultant
on
psychiatrist
spirit. During
Mental Health Week of mental health interest were shown, followed by a brains trust, the panel comprising the Rector of Friern Barnet, two consultants from Friern and Halliwick Hospitals, a psychiatric social worker and the Head of the local secondary modern school. These events were well publicised and arousedgreat interest was Various leaflets were distributed at the meetings, and in the vestibule of the Town Hall a display stand was erected depicting the theme Get Together to Prevent Loneliness. A further display was arranged in the kiosk outside the Town Hall by the Chief Public Health Officer. During the same period some 16,000 World Mental Health Year stick-on seals were bought and used by the local hospitals, the churches and local voluntary two
films
organisations.
In September, 1960, Miss Dora McClellan addressed members of the Council of Social Service Executive Committee regarding the formation oi a Local Association for Mental HealthMembers present at that meeting fel* such valuable information should, he given to a wider audience and arrange' ments were made for Miss McClellaP to speak to representatives of local organisations. At this meeting a planning committee was formed and a arrangements were made to hold large public meeting which was subsequently held on 2nd March, 1961. Prior to this, local organisation5 were asked whether they would be will' ing to receive a speaker who would give a 10-minute talk on mental health at one of their meetings. It was hoped that this, together with very wide publicity, would arouse further interest within the district. This was achieved and a large audi' ence listened with great interest to Mrs108
members of the Association were able to meet each other, and the local P. Rees (Medical Consultant to Operatic Society kindly provided musiN-A.M.H.), Dr. I. Sutton (Physician cal entertainment. Another successful social occasion, Superintendent Friern Hospital). At the conclusion of the public meeting which we hope to repeat, was a coffee Chairman of the Urban District morning when a doctor on our committee was available to join in diswho had been Chairman of Planning Committee, proposed cussion and to answer questions. This lhat a local Association be formed in gave an opportunity for members to ^riern Barnet. This received full sup- meet one another as well as the ComP0rt and some two weeks later the mittee, and also made it possible for lnaugural meeting was held; about 60 those who might be hesitant about People attended. asking for information at public meetFollowing the business of the Meet- ings to put their questions informally. ln8, three psychiatrists answered the Much help has been received from ftiany interesting questions put to the Urban District Council, the Application was later made for Hospital Management Committee and individuals. Membership has atnliation to the N.A.M.H. many steadily grown. In the first instance, membership was confined to indivithe main theme but at the latter part of dual In accordance with one of the last members, year local organisations were objects of the Association, education invited to become Associate Members. nas been the main theme throughout Once again, this has received good the first year. Several film evenings support. We greatly value the good ?n such subjects as problems of co-operation we have with organisadevelopment in children, and tions such as the local branch of the 0rk as part of the rehabilitation N.S.M.H.C., and are much helped by psychiatric patients, have been having representatives of bodies with at the conclusion of which arranged, similar interests on our committee. a Psychiatrist has always been availto answer questions. A consultant Future plans r?m Friern Hospital addressed a wellNow to the future. There are many tended meeting on loneliness and of the aged, and an officer ways in which we as an Association * the Some National Society for Mentally hope to play our part. for practical work have an suggestions Children gave teresting report on the Brooklands already been made and we hope to cberne and the work of the Society. assist people by providing "babysitters". It is sometimes most difficult our own meetings we proe speakers when requested by other for people with mentally handicapped and are particularly children to get someone to relieve to be able to reach groups of them for short periods for relaxation. yUng people in this way. We have Already the hospital and local Pplied speakers to several church authority services are asking us for and youth leagues of the help with individual patients and we Political parties. hope to extend this aspect of our work Members rriall social events been as our Association grows. have ranged in order to raise money and with cars are willing to take elderly the Committee have been able people to visit relatives in hospital, and assist financially where such assist- others are prepared to visit patients in Ce could not be found from other their homes. s We shall read with great interest u.rces. Perhaps the most successful s event was a Get Together held about schemes suggested by other local at u the latter part of last year when Associations.
Halpin, J.P. (Chairman Local Associations Committee N.A.M.H.), Dr.
"[?
jhe ^ouncii; jhe
.
Education
formal
able
Problems
f^andicapped v-besides
j"?anisations,
Phased
f^ps
toready
109
2: Friern Barnet by Mrs. M. E. Haverly (Hon. Sec.) years the National for Mental Health has run courses for chaplains in mental hospitals, and many of these have expressed the value of courses in their parish work. As a result of this, the National Association approached the London Churches' Group, expressing the hope that two pilot schemes might be organised; one south and one north of the river. Miss Proud, the General Secretary of the London Council of Social Service, approached Friern Barnet Council of Social Service with a view to organising the latter. This was the foundation stone of interest in mental health within the district. In conjunction with the Friern Barnet Council of Churches a one-day conference was subsequently held on 2nd June, 1959. Several months were given to planning this conference and invitations were sent to clergy and ministers of all denominations. In the first instance they were sent to the local clergy and gradually extended to clergy of neighbouring districts. several FOR Association
Public
meeting held
Following
this
Friern Barnet
arranged
a
conference,
when the
Council of Churches
public meeting later people attended.
year some 130
in the The
this occasion were a confrom Friern Hospital and Miss F. Dean, Organiser of Mental Deficiency Services at the N.A.M.H. In World Mental Health Year, 1960, all local organisations represented on the Council of Social Service, together withi many individuals likely to be interested were invited to attend a meeting to discuss and make plans for Mental Health Week. Although Friern Barnet is a comparatively small district it is well known for its community
speakers sultant
on
psychiatrist
spirit. During
Mental Health Week of mental health interest were shown, followed by a brains trust, the panel comprising the Rector of Friern Barnet, two consultants from Friern and Halliwick Hospitals, a psychiatric social worker and the Head of the local secondary modern school. These events were well publicised and arousedgreat interest was Various leaflets were distributed at the meetings, and in the vestibule of the Town Hall a display stand was erected depicting the theme Get Together to Prevent Loneliness. A further display was arranged in the kiosk outside the Town Hall by the Chief Public Health Officer. During the same period some 16,000 World Mental Health Year stick-on seals were bought and used by the local hospitals, the churches and local voluntary two
films
organisations.
In September, 1960, Miss Dora McClellan addressed members of the Council of Social Service Executive Committee regarding the formation oi a Local Association for Mental HealthMembers present at that meeting fel* such valuable information should, he given to a wider audience and arrange' ments were made for Miss McClellaP to speak to representatives of local organisations. At this meeting a planning committee was formed and a arrangements were made to hold large public meeting which was subsequently held on 2nd March, 1961. Prior to this, local organisation5 were asked whether they would be will' ing to receive a speaker who would give a 10-minute talk on mental health at one of their meetings. It was hoped that this, together with very wide publicity, would arouse further interest within the district. This was achieved and a large audi' ence listened with great interest to Mrs108
members of the Association were able to meet each other, and the local P. Rees (Medical Consultant to Operatic Society kindly provided musiN-A.M.H.), Dr. I. Sutton (Physician cal entertainment. Another successful social occasion, Superintendent Friern Hospital). At the conclusion of the public meeting which we hope to repeat, was a coffee Chairman of the Urban District morning when a doctor on our committee was available to join in diswho had been Chairman of Planning Committee, proposed cussion and to answer questions. This lhat a local Association be formed in gave an opportunity for members to ^riern Barnet. This received full sup- meet one another as well as the ComP0rt and some two weeks later the mittee, and also made it possible for lnaugural meeting was held; about 60 those who might be hesitant about People attended. asking for information at public meetFollowing the business of the Meet- ings to put their questions informally. ln8, three psychiatrists answered the Much help has been received from ftiany interesting questions put to the Urban District Council, the Application was later made for Hospital Management Committee and individuals. Membership has atnliation to the N.A.M.H. many steadily grown. In the first instance, membership was confined to indivithe main theme but at the latter part of dual In accordance with one of the last members, year local organisations were objects of the Association, education invited to become Associate Members. nas been the main theme throughout Once again, this has received good the first year. Several film evenings support. We greatly value the good ?n such subjects as problems of co-operation we have with organisadevelopment in children, and tions such as the local branch of the 0rk as part of the rehabilitation N.S.M.H.C., and are much helped by psychiatric patients, have been having representatives of bodies with at the conclusion of which arranged, similar interests on our committee. a Psychiatrist has always been availto answer questions. A consultant Future plans r?m Friern Hospital addressed a wellNow to the future. There are many tended meeting on loneliness and of the aged, and an officer ways in which we as an Association * the Some National Society for Mentally hope to play our part. for practical work have an suggestions Children gave teresting report on the Brooklands already been made and we hope to cberne and the work of the Society. assist people by providing "babysitters". It is sometimes most difficult our own meetings we proe speakers when requested by other for people with mentally handicapped and are particularly children to get someone to relieve to be able to reach groups of them for short periods for relaxation. yUng people in this way. We have Already the hospital and local Pplied speakers to several church authority services are asking us for and youth leagues of the help with individual patients and we Political parties. hope to extend this aspect of our work Members rriall social events been as our Association grows. have ranged in order to raise money and with cars are willing to take elderly the Committee have been able people to visit relatives in hospital, and assist financially where such assist- others are prepared to visit patients in Ce could not be found from other their homes. s We shall read with great interest u.rces. Perhaps the most successful s event was a Get Together held about schemes suggested by other local at u the latter part of last year when Associations.
Halpin, J.P. (Chairman Local Associations Committee N.A.M.H.), Dr.
"[?
jhe ^ouncii; jhe
.
Education
formal
able
Problems
f^andicapped v-besides
j"?anisations,
Phased
f^ps
toready
109
