Identity area
Type of entity
Secondary Agency
Authorized form of name
Saskatchewan. Office of the Commissioner of Mental Services
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Office of the Commissioner of Mental Services
- Commissioner of Mental Services
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1930-1947
History
In 1929, the Government of Saskatchewan appointed a special commission to study the province's psychiatric services and make recommendations for improvements. In December, 1930 the government acted on the commission's recommendations by establishing the Office of the Commissioner of Mental Services to oversee all psychiatric services in Saskatchewan. The first commissioner appointed was Dr. J.W. MacNeill, who held the position until 1945. Subsequent commissioners included Dr. R.O. Davison (1945-1946) and Dr. D.G. McKerracher (1946-1947).
The Commissioner of Mental Services advised the Minister of Public Health on mental health issues and oversaw the psychiatric hospitals at North Battleford and Weyburn; the Saskatchewan Training School in Weyburn and the psychiatric ward at the Regina General Hospital. The Commissioner frequently lectured on mental health issues and advocated developments in psychiatric programs and services.
In 1945, amendments to the Mental Hygiene Act transferred greater authority regarding the admission and removal of patients in institutions from the Deputy Minister of Public Health to the Commissioner of Mental Services. In 1947, the office was reorganized into the Division of Mental Services in the Department of Public Health.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The primary function of the Office of the Commissioner of Mental Services was overseeing all psychiatric services in Saskatchewan.
Mandates/sources of authority
Order-in-Council 1881/30
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
controls
Saskatchewan. Office of the Commissioner of Mental Services
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Status
Final
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Authority record created on 2008-10-28. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Department of Public Health Annual Reports
Order-in-Council 1881/30
SAB Pamphlet File - Mental Hygiene
AMICUS Authorities - no entry found