[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

IX. MENTAL DISORDER Mental Health Act, 1959. The Act came into force on 1st November, 1960, Proposals under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, have been approved by the Northampton County Borough Council and the Minister of Health on the future structure of the Council’s Mental Health Service, which includes provision of services to meet the needs of the mentally disordered in the community and to make the services known and available to those who are in need of them. To enable this to be done it is envisaged that considerable additional staff and office accommodation will be required, together with residential accommodation, Junior and Senior Training Centres, and facilities forhome training of the mentally disordered. 1960 was WORLD MENTAL HEALTH YEAR, and exhibitions and appeals, giving information on research into the causes of mental disorder, and new methods of treatment were held all over the country. These drew attention to the problems of mental disorder and it would seem that there is an increasing interest being shewn by the public generally, especially as the future emphasis will be on community care. Subnormality and Severe Subnormality. Fifteen new cases were notified from the following sources :— Local Education Authority . 2 Other sources ..4 13 Total . 15 These were dealt with as follows :— Placed under supervision . 15 Not regarded as defective . — Admitted to hospital . — Total . 15 Statistics. There were 404 persons on the register of mental patients at 31st December, 1960; these were classed as follows:— In hospitals and homes . MALES 57 FEMALES 74 TOTALS 131 Under Guardianship Orders . 3 — 3 Under supervision ... 131 131 262 County Borough cases 191 205 396 On leave from hospitals (not North¬ ampton County Borough cases) 1 7 8 Totals .... 192 212 404