Morris Carstairs

George Morrison 'Morris' Carstairs, FRCPE, FRCPsych (18 June 1916 – 17 April 1991) was a British psychiatrist, anthropologist, and academic. He was Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1961 to 1973, President of the World Mental Health Organization from 1968 to 1972, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1973 to 1978.^[1][2] In his youth, he had been a distinguished long-distance runner.^[3][4]

Early life

Carstairs was born on 18 June 1916 in Mussoorie, India, then part of the British Raj.^[3][5] He was the son of the Reverend Dr George Carstairs, a Church of Scotland missionary, and Elizabeth Huntley Carstairs (née Young).^[1] He spent his childhood living in India and became fluent in both English and Hindi.^[1][3] At the age of ten, he and his family moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at George Watson's College, then an all-boys independent school in Edinburgh.^[1] He went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. In 1941, he graduated Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB).^[3]

He was an accomplished long-distance runner in his youth. He was the Scottish 3 miles champion in 1937, 1938 and 1939.^[3] He represented Scotland at the 1937 International University Games, winning a silver medal in the 5000 metres in a time of 15:24.2. He also represented Scotland at the 1939 International University Games, winning a gold medal in the 5000 metres in a time of 15:20.2.^[6] He represented Great Britain at the 1938 European Athletics Championships, coming sixth in the Men's 5000 metres with a time of 14:51.3.^[3]

Career

Military service

Having completed medical training, Carstairs was called up for active service during World War II as a medical officer with the Royal Air Force.^[1] He was commissioned into the Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 15 May 1942 as a flying officer (emergency).^[7] He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 15 May 1943.^[8] He was demobilised in 1946.^[1]

Medical career

Following graduation in 1941, Carstairs worked in general medicine. He was an assistant physician at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for a year.^[1] He served as a medical officer with the Royal Air Force between 1942 and 1946.^[3]

In 1953, he began his career in psychiatry when he was appointed a senior registrar at the Maudsley Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in London, England.^[1] There he worked with chronic psychiatric patients under the supervision of Sir Aubrey Lewis.^[1][2] During his work, he come to the conclusion that patients with schizophrenia needed a neutral environment to cope with their condition and returning them to an 'emotionally charged family setting' would only set back their recovery.^[3] He also discovered that improved motivation in patients helped their rehabilitation.^[4]

In 1960, he was appointed head of a new Medical Research Council unit based at University College London. This unit led the study of psychiatric epidemiology in the United Kingdom.^[1] When he moved to Edinburgh in 1961, he moved the unit with him and continued its research. He stood down as director in 1971, and was followed by Norman Kreitman.^[3]

From 1968 to 1972, he was President of the World Mental Health Organization.^[9] While holding that post, he was involved in the development of psychiatric facilities in under-developed countries.^[1] In 1978, he left academia and devoted his time to advising the World Health Organisation on developing psychiatric services in India, with emphasis on making them appropriate to Asian needs.^[2]

Academic career

In 1961, Carstairs was appointed Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. At the university he created a new working group of academics and practising psychiatrists for research and teaching; it was the first such group created outside London.^[3] At the university he taught a wide range of course at both undergraduate and graduate level.^[1]

He gave the 1962 Reith Lectures, a renowned public lecture series broadcast on BBC Radio, titled This Island Now.^[3][10] In one lecture he condoned pre-marital sex, which produced controversy.^[2] His statement of belief was offensive to many British Christians, particularly given that he was the son of a clergyman.^[1]

In January 1973, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of York. He was only the second person to head the university as it had only been established in 1963.^[11] The 1970s were a difficult time to be involved in university leadership in the United Kingdom. The country was in recession and student protests were frequent.^[2] He had plans to expand the university both physically and in the number of subjects it taught, but because of the hostile atmosphere he faced these were not achieved during his vice-chancellorship.^[11] This experience meant that he never returned to full-time academia after leaving the post in the summer of 1978.^[2][11]

Later life

Carstairs suffered from senile dementia in his later years.^[1] He withdrew from professional life, and was cared for by his first wife.^[2] He died at his Edinburgh home on 17 April 1991.^[1]

References