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4— Goldsboro News-Argus Friday,Aug, 11*972’
A Dark Age Attitud
By BRYAN HAISLIP
RALEIGH — A stigma from the Dark Agt^s sti,ll attaches to
illness. 11,1 I ?*—
A Society that calls itself humane no longer condones flog-
ging of the mentally ill, though it may impose punishment in
The refusal to accept aspnormaP/ the person who has
received treatment reflects a’ pODUcT attitude that is a throw-
back to the past, said Dr. Peter Witt, director of research for the
state mental, health department.
From the professional point of view, he added, that is the
discouraging aspect of the dropping of Sen. Thomas Eagletonof
Missouri as the Democratic vice presidential nominee.
“Psychiatrists say patients already are very reluctant to
come for reatment because they feel a stigma maybe attached.
Mow, in 1 e Eagieton affair, we are openly sayingpYes, it can
ruin ypuj i^^reTy id observed.
” ‘“’li is really undermining all the efforts that are made to
make people look for help in maintaining mental health.”
The end result can be that many people will try to thrash out
problems too large for them to cope with alone, knowing they
will not be forgiven for seeking treatment. “Some of them can
come to great damage,” Dr. Witt said. “It’s really terrible,
when you think about
Dr. Witt, whose office is at Dorothea Dix State Hospital
hereTdiSCUSSSd attitudes towards mental illness and current
directions in treatment in the following interview.
Question: How far have we come in the way we regard
mental illness?
Answer: A very long way, no doubt about it. We still have a
long way to go, of course.
Originally, mental disease was thought of as a curse of the
gods. The victim had done something wrong and must be
punished for itpfhey were whipped and locked flpj
The next St3ge was to get ricTof them, put iRtfffi where they
wouldn’t be seen. This was the birth of the large institutions.
Treatment Concept Emerges
Then came the age of treatment. The medical model looked
at the emotionally and mentally disturbed as any other sick
Toward Mental Illness
person — a cast for a broken leg, psychology and drug therapy
«for die mentally ill.
We’re supposed to be beyond that. The social model of
[ /chiatr; iefinest! .‘patient 10t as sick but as one who doesn’t
he into society.H
Q: What difference does this make in treatment?
A: It tends .to move therapy outside the Institution. The
mental hospital setting is asocial. The institution becomes a
society in itself. The patient is discharged to Jive in .a far dif-
ferent world outside. In many cases, it is thqenvironmenywhich
is involved in his illness.
Q: Is mental health in our state moving in this direction?;^.
A: North Carolina is very much in the forefront with its
community mental health program. The idea of going to a
hospit. can e frightei ;ng for a person who needs treatment.
Today at is it really ecessary. He canget help locally while
living him.. jfTherap is less disruptive/
Ter, years ago this program did not exisfT Some states do not
have’anything like it.
Q: How does the public attitude on mental illness within a
community relate to the success of treatment?
Ar .It is an important factor. The family needs to -be
educated to deal witirthe patient as he works out his problems.
The acceptance or rejection he encounters in the community
can determine how well he will fitagain into society.
It’s important that the public be more aware of help they
canget. If they trust the system and think they will get help, it is
easier for than to look for treatment.
Q: Is the present controversy over mental health care in fhe
state harmful to the system? A
A: The fact that there is controversy can be a veryJiealthy
sign. It’s, excellent for people to be interested, concerned ana
wlflmg to participate. The worst thing is when the public says,
“Go away and leave us in peace. Don’t upset our orderly life.’’
There are states which have conditions far worse than ours,
and iheir citizens do not seem concerned at all.
Ours is a decent, progressive state. It can be counted on to
do what is necessary.