Editorial
Mental health care
a priority issue
Last week the Oregonian ran a series of articles on the
conditions of the state’s mental health institutions. The
reports brought many mental health care problems to the
surface. Unfortunately it also realized how difficult it will be
to solve them.
Oregon once was known for its progressive mental
health programs, but these ideas have not been carried out
recently. The concept of deinstitutionaliz.ation, for example,
is the primary policy implemented in the state It believes
patients can receive equal treatment and lead fuller lives if
they are integrated into the community. But lack of com
munity support and substandard housing for the patients
have hampered the effectiveness of this policy.
However, deinstitution has helped to reduce over
crowding at state institutions. This, in turn, relieves some of
the pressures on an already overworked staff.
Violence is still a major concern, though. Both patients
and workers have been injured in attacks by other patients.
For this reason, staff safety was an issue during the Oregon
Public Employees Union strike in September. According to
the Oregonian, last year employees of Dammasch and
Oregon state hospitals filed almost 340 injury claims and the
state spends almost $0 million for workers compensation.
This problem is a direct result of understaffed institu
tions — there are not enough employees to watch over the
patients.
"When you got four (psychiatric) aides, it’s hard to
cover 30 to 40 patients on all parts of the ward," Chuck For
ward, an Oregon State Hospital psychiatric aide, told the
Oregonian.
Hiring more staff would be a simple solution to this
aspect of the problem, but it is not possible until the
legislature reconvenes in 1989. Already this year the
Kmergency Board granted $900,000 to move 50 Dammasch
patients into community care. However, the board denied
another $700,000 request for general psychiatric staff at the
Oregon State Hospital.
The Kmergency Funds are running low. Almost half of
the reserve has been allocated to fighting forest fires.
Governor Neil Goldschmidt has acknowledged the need
to repair and maintain quality mental health care in Oregon,
and will make it a priority when the Legislature meets. Hut
Goldschmidt faces 10 years of neglect.
The state Human Resource chief. Kevin Concannon.
stated the lack of action will ho difficult to overcome. "It's
an unrealistic hope that the governor will make up in 10
months for 10 years of pent-up demand," he said to the
Oregonian.
Efficient and safe mental health care is a problem that
has been overlooked too many times. The Oregonian’s series
has played an important and much needed role in ad
vocating a proper, quality system. The articles should not be
ignored. Instead they should be seen as a potential solution
to solving many of the problems.
If Oregon is truly concerned about caring for its mental
ly ill, it will address the issue as soon as possible in the
Legislature. It is possible for the state to regain its famous,
progressive programs, but people need to realize it will take
time, money and dedication.
Oregon Daily
Emerald
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Letters
Gulf policy
In |une 1986 when the U.S.
Navy arrived in the Persian Gulf
to reflag Kuwaiti oil tankers, the
Department of State announced
three major objectives of U.S.
policy in the gulf: 1) To protect
the unimpeded flow of oil; 2) to
stand by American friends in
the gulf; and 3) to limit Soviet
influence.
Now that more than three
months have passed since the
reflagging policy began, one
can question the achievements
of U.S. objectives in the gulf.
Kirst, not only has the flow of
oil not become unimpeded, but
tankers are now, more than
ever, subject to indiscriminate
attacks (by direct and indirect
belligerents). According to
Lloyd's of London, in the six
months before the U.S. arrived
in the gulf, only SR attacks were
recorded on more than 400 com
mercial ships using the gulf dai
ly. In the three months since the
reflagging policy, there have
been at least 53 attacks on com
mercial ships This clearly in
dicates that commercial shipp
ing now is twice as dangerous
as it was before the United
States arrived in the Persian
Gulf
Second, the American friends
in the gulf (countries who sup
port Iraq in the Gulf War) are
now. more than at any other
time, in danger of direct conflict
with Iran, and their conditions
are far from being safe. The
latest Iranian attack on the
Kuwaiti Sea Island main oil ter
minal attests to this. Now for
the first time since the beginn
ing of the Gulf War in I960,
Kuwait has become directly in
volved in an act of war with
Iran. With the escalation of the
war and more pressure on Iran,
Saudi Arabia and other gulf
kingdoms will become targets
for further Iranian attacks.
Third, the military pressure
from the United States can put
Iran in an impossible situation,
and open the door to direct
Soviet involvement in the coun
try Relations between Tehran
and Moscow have already pro
gressed far beyond the level of
"flirting,” and a direct confron
tation with the United States
can easily throw Iran into the
open arms of the Soviet Union.
This would bo contrary to the
U.S. policy of “Soviet
containment."
Gulf security, which is the
main objective of the U.S.
policy, depends greatly on the
achievement of peace between
Iran and Iraq. As far as peace is
concerned, the present U.S.
military exercise in the gulf has.
so far. proved to be counter
productive.
Masoud Kheirabadi, Ph.D.
Geography Department
Ignorance
The letters appearing in the
Emerald in response to the
Soviet Free Zone poster
displayed by the College
Republicans are at best disap
pointing. 1 find it very hard to
believe that these letters were
written by University students
(on a liberal arts campus at
that!). It is disappointing that
students who are learning to
think critically cannot make the
connection between the Soviet
Free Zone and other Free Zone
legislation. Is the idea of
political satire dead?
How is it possible that
"students" from this liberal arts
university that has a social
science requirement cannot
understand that "Soviet" refers
to a government, not a race of
people. Is a Republican a racist
because he or she does not agree
with the democrats?
How can students of a univer
sity that has a history of ac
tivism not make the connection
between the poster and the
Soviet invasion and subjugation
of the Afghan people? Prior to
the Soviet invasion, I’m sure
that the Afghan nation (and
race) would have welcomed be
ing declared a Soviet Free Zone.
The greatest disappointment
of all is that there are
"students” here who do not
understand the importance of
the constitutional guarantee of
the freedom of speech. To sug
gest that anyone not be allowed
to express their opinion in
public, and should confine their
opinions to "the privacy of their
own bedroom,” is an attack on
the very principle that allows
our university to exist as as in
stitution where the exchange of
ideas is promoted, strengthen
ing our nation as a whole.
1 would like to see the College
Republicans display a new
poster. It should read:
“Ignorance Free Zone: No
Misconceptions Allowed!”
Daryl Nichols
History
Don't stress
In response to the article on
stress (ODE, Oct. 28):
Happiness.
Isn't that what makes life
worthwhile? Yet most college
students put themselves under
tremendous stress for future
rewards (e g. a good job) Does
it make sense to flog yourself
academically so you can feel the
comfort of the “good life" when
you graduate?
Education is a joy unless it
dominates life, just as work can
become tedious. Life has so
much to offer, and it is a shame
that we have become slaves to
our textbooks.
So take as long as you need to
complete your degree. Work,
play and live life to the fullest
along the way. Only you can
create stress — and only you
can avoid it.
Allen Hancock
PPPM