Psychiatric Halfway Hostels

Miss Brete Huseth's article in June* describes the results of a study which she made in this country during May, 1959 to June, 1960; that is, very early in a transitional period of the mental health services, and we think it is important to try to clarify some of her statements, and to point out some seeming anachronisms; as misconceptions in the field of mental health are only too easily formed and perpetuated. One misconception may arise because Miss Huseth has written in the present tense describing the situation as she understood it to be in 1959, but she uses terms such as "on trial", "recovered" which have gone out of use. "On trial" was a term used under the old 1890 Act (Section 55), referring to patients still under certificate. Under the new Act. compulsory detention of patients living outside the hospital for six months automatically ceases and, therefore, no residents in our care remained under the old certification rating after April, 1961. To date (August, 1962), only two patients have come to us while still under compulsory detention order. The phrase "on trial" which up to 1959 would have meant "still on certificate" has now no definite meaning. We are often able to take a patient whose chances of a relapse are fairly high if the sending hospital agrees to re-admit at once without formality should the patient