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Who shall hold the conch? some thoughts on community control of mental health programs

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Abstract

Experience at an English day center for recovered psychotics led the writer to see a need for mental patients to be given considerable control over their own program or else succumb to the Queequeg Syndrome. This syndrome results from patients accepting and adapting to unrealistic roles that a prejudiced society has thrust upon them. It appears to the writer that the syndrome applies equally to other disadvantaged groups, notably to the poor, and he suggests that one appropriate form of treatment will be to give consumers a large measure of control over mental health programs.

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Author notes

  1. Philip J. Darley M.A.

    Present address: Fishponds Health Centre, Beechwood Road, Fishponds, Bristol, England

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. Philip J. Darley M.A.
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    Additional information

    Mr. Philip J. Darley, formerly a social worker in the Community Mental Health Service at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

    A longer version of this paper won the Harry C. Solomon award at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center in June 1971.

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    Darley, P.J. Who shall hold the conch? some thoughts on community control of mental health programs. Community Ment Health J 10, 185–191 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410898

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