Mental Health Grant of $83,000 Will Help PBH Volunteer Work

The National Institute of Mental Health has awarded an $83,000 grant to the Mental Health Committee of Phillips Brooks House. The funds will be used over a three-year period for future study and service by student volunteers.

Unique in awarding funds to college extra-curricular activities, the NIMH plans to follow the PBH work closely as a "test case" to determine whether the project can be undertaken by other colleges.

In making the grant, the Institute "recognized the tremendous importance of the students' accomplishments" and is supporting continued service by PBH to the Metropolitan State Hospital. In addition, the purpose of the unusual award is to educate students in the field of mental health and to encourage them to pursue it as a career. Tests on volunteers will be conducted by a professional to learn why students participate, what they profit from their work, and the effect it has upon them.

David Kantor, research associate in Social Relations and director of the PBH program, said that the NIMH was attracted by the students' work on mental health and is experimenting with the feasibility of such grants.

An historical account of PBH work and a general analysis of the college students' role in mental health, written by four College students, was a direct influence upon the NIMH in securing the grant, according to Kantor.

A grant last June by the Institute and funds from local groups financed the preparation of the yet unpublished report by Carter C. Umbarger '59, James S. Dalsimer '59, Andrew Morrison '58, and Peter Breggin '58, members of the PBH committee.

In addition to Kantor, three professionals in the area--Dr. Milton Greenblatt, assistant superintendent of the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Dr. William McLaughlin, superintendent of the Metropolitan State Hospital, and Mrs. Meada Sullivan, special consultant to the PBH Mental Health Committee--solicited for the grant in the interest of the PBH group.