CNCMH: Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene

CNCMH: Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene

The Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene (CNCMH) was established on January 26, 1918 by Clifford W. Beers and Canadian psychiatrist C. M. Hincks (Richardson, 1989). The organization (now known as the Canadian Mental Health Association) was a voluntary health organization (Sexual Sterilization Act, n.d.), and purported to have five primary objectives:

1. War Work
(a) Psychiatric examination of recruits.
(b) Adequate care of returned soldiers suffering from mental disabilities.

2. Mental examination of immigrants (post-war) to ensure a better selection of newcomers.

3. Adequate facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of mental disease.

4. Adequate care of the mentally deficient.

5. Prevention of mental disease and deficiency. (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014)

It also aimed "to fight crime, prostitution, and unemployment," all thought to be tied to feeble-mindedness at the time.

The Committee included many influential Canadians, such as C. K. Clarke from Toronto, Lord Shaugnessy, Richard B. Angus, Dr. C. F. Martin (professor of medicine at McGill University), the president of the Bank of Montreal Sir Vincent Meredith, and the president of Molson's Brewery, F. W. Molson (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014 ; Richardson, 1989). It was considered a counterpart to similar organizations in the United States, and indeed, Canada and the United States conducted a great deal of work in mental hygiene compared to other countries, although many countries had similar committees (Richardson, 1989).

The Committee involved itself with Canadian mental hygiene on many levels. Initially, they were particularly involved with the mental health of veterans of World War I, and Hincks and a colleague visited institutions in Manitoba (including the Home for the Incurables in Portage la Prarie), and submitted reports to the provincial government on their findings (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The Manitoba Survey prompted other such work in being administered in other provinces, such as British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The reports generally advocated for better care for patients (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). These reports were used in order to argue for eugenic policies in Alberta, including the Sexual Sterilization Act (Alberta Eugenics Board, n.d.). The Committee also interested itself in screening immigrants coming into the country (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

The CNCMH was also heavily involved with schools - it was under the guidance of the CNCMH that isolated schools for treating feeble-mindedness and mental illness were created (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The CNCMH also advocated for "preventive programs" regarding the mentally ill (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). Several Mental Hygiene clinics were also supported by the Committee (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

In spite of its close ties with Canada's eugenic past, the CNCMH was also helped start "public and professional education in mental hygiene and psychiatry" (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

-Erna Kurbegovic and Colette Leung

CNCMH: Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene

The Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene (CNCMH) was established on January 26, 1918 by Clifford W. Beers and Canadian psychiatrist C. M. Hincks (Richardson, 1989). The organization (now known as the Canadian Mental Health Association) was a voluntary health organization (Sexual Sterilization Act, n.d.), and purported to have five primary objectives:

1. War Work
(a) Psychiatric examination of recruits.
(b) Adequate care of returned soldiers suffering from mental disabilities.

2. Mental examination of immigrants (post-war) to ensure a better selection of newcomers.

3. Adequate facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of mental disease.

4. Adequate care of the mentally deficient.

5. Prevention of mental disease and deficiency. (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014)

It also aimed "to fight crime, prostitution, and unemployment," all thought to be tied to feeble-mindedness at the time.

The Committee included many influential Canadians, such as C. K. Clarke from Toronto, Lord Shaugnessy, Richard B. Angus, Dr. C. F. Martin (professor of medicine at McGill University), the president of the Bank of Montreal Sir Vincent Meredith, and the president of Molson's Brewery, F. W. Molson (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014 ; Richardson, 1989). It was considered a counterpart to similar organizations in the United States, and indeed, Canada and the United States conducted a great deal of work in mental hygiene compared to other countries, although many countries had similar committees (Richardson, 1989).

The Committee involved itself with Canadian mental hygiene on many levels. Initially, they were particularly involved with the mental health of veterans of World War I, and Hincks and a colleague visited institutions in Manitoba (including the Home for the Incurables in Portage la Prarie), and submitted reports to the provincial government on their findings (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The Manitoba Survey prompted other such work in being administered in other provinces, such as British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The reports generally advocated for better care for patients (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). These reports were used in order to argue for eugenic policies in Alberta, including the Sexual Sterilization Act (Alberta Eugenics Board, n.d.). The Committee also interested itself in screening immigrants coming into the country (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

The CNCMH was also heavily involved with schools - it was under the guidance of the CNCMH that isolated schools for treating feeble-mindedness and mental illness were created (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The CNCMH also advocated for "preventive programs" regarding the mentally ill (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). Several Mental Hygiene clinics were also supported by the Committee (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

In spite of its close ties with Canada's eugenic past, the CNCMH was also helped start "public and professional education in mental hygiene and psychiatry" (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

-Erna Kurbegovic and Colette Leung

CNCMH: Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene

The Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene (CNCMH) was established on January 26, 1918 by Clifford W. Beers and Canadian psychiatrist C. M. Hincks (Richardson, 1989). The organization (now known as the Canadian Mental Health Association) was a voluntary health organization (Sexual Sterilization Act, n.d.), and purported to have five primary objectives:

1. War Work
(a) Psychiatric examination of recruits.
(b) Adequate care of returned soldiers suffering from mental disabilities.

2. Mental examination of immigrants (post-war) to ensure a better selection of newcomers.

3. Adequate facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of mental disease.

4. Adequate care of the mentally deficient.

5. Prevention of mental disease and deficiency. (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014)

It also aimed "to fight crime, prostitution, and unemployment," all thought to be tied to feeble-mindedness at the time.

The Committee included many influential Canadians, such as C. K. Clarke from Toronto, Lord Shaugnessy, Richard B. Angus, Dr. C. F. Martin (professor of medicine at McGill University), the president of the Bank of Montreal Sir Vincent Meredith, and the president of Molson's Brewery, F. W. Molson (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014 ; Richardson, 1989). It was considered a counterpart to similar organizations in the United States, and indeed, Canada and the United States conducted a great deal of work in mental hygiene compared to other countries, although many countries had similar committees (Richardson, 1989).

The Committee involved itself with Canadian mental hygiene on many levels. Initially, they were particularly involved with the mental health of veterans of World War I, and Hincks and a colleague visited institutions in Manitoba (including the Home for the Incurables in Portage la Prarie), and submitted reports to the provincial government on their findings (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The Manitoba Survey prompted other such work in being administered in other provinces, such as British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Saskatchewan (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The reports generally advocated for better care for patients (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). These reports were used in order to argue for eugenic policies in Alberta, including the Sexual Sterilization Act (Alberta Eugenics Board, n.d.). The Committee also interested itself in screening immigrants coming into the country (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

The CNCMH was also heavily involved with schools - it was under the guidance of the CNCMH that isolated schools for treating feeble-mindedness and mental illness were created (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). The CNCMH also advocated for "preventive programs" regarding the mentally ill (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014). Several Mental Hygiene clinics were also supported by the Committee (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

In spite of its close ties with Canada's eugenic past, the CNCMH was also helped start "public and professional education in mental hygiene and psychiatry" (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).

-Erna Kurbegovic and Colette Leung