EDITORIAL
Return to Work there is increased
emphasis TODAY treating the psychiatric patient on
outside hospital, and this makes it essential that he (or she) should be fit to take a useful place in the community, and work in a job which really suits him. It is not good enough to find him something as a pastime which puts him at a disadvantage, economic and psychological, with his friends: nor is it progressive to keep him indefinitely in a sheltered occupation: though both these alternatives are better than no job at all, and may be
temporary expedients.
This is not simply a matter of the individual's welfare: it is of vital concern to the community too, for the wastage of productivity from neurotic illness due both to absence from work and to inefficiency at work costs the country an annual sum which is much more than the losses from strikes. For this reason, there is a great need for collaboration between employers, the trades unions and doctors both inside and outside industry. It is of course
a
great oversimplification
to
say?as has been said elsewhere?that the main concerns of these three groups are to increase productivity, satisfaction at work, and health, respectively : but there is nevertheless some truth in this: and if these three are closely interwoven, there is cause for much greater understanding and sympathy between these three groups of people than exists everywhere at
present. fortunate in being able to publish in this^ issue several articles by experts in this field. Dr. Murray's paper gives an account of the trades unions' attitude and aims and we must remember that these must be seen in the light of the struggles in the past which have left an indelible mark on their behaviour. The difficulties of executives become clearer if we understand not only the past history of management too, but also, as Dr. Beric Wright indicates, the stresses under We
are
which they live, and the toll of ill-health. But management in spite of this taken a major Part 1 rehabilitation schemes: of which example was the foundation of special Rehabilitation Centre at Park for this purpose in 1943 un? T. M. direction. This &
^
own
^ R?^;
Dr.
Ling's
become part of the Health Serv> and its aims persist: and the pa? by Dr. Robinson, the present Direct**; sets out very clearly the principles t full rehabilitation. There are also now
course rehabilitation centres within major industries and for grow
of smaller firms. Great awareness j When a patient's illness is at work, and he is sent to a rehabii1' tion centre, full recovery and 11 to work is much easier. But when illness is not recognised, and he los r 1 his job from behaviour disorder more far difficult. is employment I the social workers of many and the Disablement Officers of the Ministry of extremely valuable and But greater awareness work. managers and industrial doctors early signs of illness would allow treatment and so avoid later strugg* with the patient who has .then beco^chronic. (The special position chronic patients is one of the discussed by Miss Morrison in &
detect^ retijv
He.s hosp'ta,
Resettlero^ Labour.^ painstak1^
'
.,
eaj^ ,
questi^r
paPer.-} It
is
of
course
more
difficult it
M 1 ^
industrial doctor is only part-time* if he and the workers of various professions concerned had very WL training in psychiatric skills: and K conference described in Dr. report emphasised the anxieties wfr ensued. More training, greater und
Bovve^
standing
are
certainly required by
concerned: and this must include $ only learning how to handle patie^ ^ but also how to understand one's reactions to stress?which as Dr. &eL Wright points out?is the first step handling them.
?
90
A