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The “true prevalence” of mental illness in a new england state

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Abstract

Utilizing the 22-Item Mental Health Scale developed by the staff of the Midtown Manhattan Project, the mental health status of a sample of 600 New Hampshire residents is examined. The findings suggest that more than one-quarter of the respondents in the sample are psychosocially impaired to varying degrees. The results also indicate that approximately 15 per cent of the respondents had previously sought help for problems of a psychiatric nature. Also considered is the distribution of mental illness in different State regions and the relationship of mental illness to several demographic and sociocultural factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dartmouth College, UK

    Derek L. Phillips Ph.D. (sociologist, Assistant Professor of Sociology)

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  1. Derek L. Phillips Ph.D.
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Additional information

The research reported here was conducted during the author's tenure as Research Consultant to the Mental Health Planning Project, State of New Hampshire. The author acknowledges his gratitude to Dr. Leo Srole, Professor of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the Midtown Staff for their cooperation and assistance in the efforts to carry out his study.

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Phillips, D.L. The “true prevalence” of mental illness in a new england state. Community Ment Health J 2, 35–40 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01420320

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