The role of the secretary in community mental health: A training model for integrating secretaries into the therapeutic team in community mental health

Within the mental health setting there is seldom any continuing education program for secretaries dealing with the vaguely-defined areas of their job. Their understanding of their function, as well as their comfort with the work, is crucial to the success or failure of the therapeutic program. The Mental Health Training Institute of North Carolina initiated a training program to facilitate the secretary's appreciation and understanding of her role, and her integration into the therapeutic team. This paper is a discussion of that program and its results.At the time this article was written, Dr. Nyman was psychiatric consultant to Onslow County Mental Health Clinic. Mr. Watson, who at the time of the Workshop was employed by the Mental Health Training Institute, is currently employed by the Alcoholism Training Program for North Carolina at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.The Mental Health Training Institute which conducted this workshop was established in 1969 as a cooperative program of East Carolina University and the North Carolina Department of Mental Health. The general purpose of the institute is to develop and operate continuing education and in-service training programs for mental health and allied professionals employed in Eastern North Carolina. Any correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mr. Harry Campbell, Director, Mental Health Training Institute, P.O. Box 2772, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834.