“Psychiatric Work Will Be Extended,” Toronto Star. July 29, 1919. Page 18. --- Report of Survey Will Show Magnitude of the Need. --- When interviewed this morning in connection with the abnormal children found in the schools Dr. Hastings, M. O. H., expressed himself as follows:
‘There can be no second opinion, in my judgement, as regards the advisability of safe precautions being taken so far as our abnormal children are concerned. The problem of mental hygiene has been lamentably neglected. Why this is so it is difficult to explain, because to devote in the past to physical hygiene and disregard mental hygiene has been a gross injustice to the rising generation. The only efficient way to establish a system of mental hygiene is to ascertain the magnitude of the problem that we are confronted with, and that was the object that we had in view in having a survey made of our schools here in order to ascertain what percentage of abnormal children we had.
‘So far as the Department of Health is concerned, we have had a psychiatrist on the staff ever since we had control of the school work, and we purpose extending that work after we get the report of the survey now being made, and which will demonstrate the magnitude of the problem and the necessity for increase activities.’