Pennsylvania Statutes Title 50 P.S. Mental Health § 575.1. Purposes of institution

The Western State Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, located in Allegheny County, shall be used for study and research into the causes, treatment, prevention and cure of the various types of nervous disorders and mental diseases. This institute shall also provide training and teaching both at the undergraduate and at the graduate level of students who, upon graduation, will enter the practice of general medicine, with a technical background of training in mental illness, as well as for the purpose of taking up the great gap between the number of qualified psychiatrists and the number who are needed as a result of the constantly mounting number of persons needing attention for mental disorders.

A further purpose of the institute shall be to provide regular courses of study for State Hospital personnel in order that there may be a more highly trained and efficient staff and personnel in the various mental institutions throughout the Commonwealth.

A further purpose shall be to deal with the mental hygiene of the normal child in the way of study and training in order that there may be a program of prevention of mental and nervous disorders as a result of giving children the proper background and training that will prevent such disorders.

A further purpose shall be the training and teaching of nurses and other personnel needed in the treatment, care and prevention of mental illness.

For a further purpose the institute shall focus its expert activities on problems of administration so that studies may be made to deal effectively, humanely and economically with the care of mental illness throughout the Commonwealth.