Video: Evander Lomke of the AMHF on "The Violent Person" by Raymond B. Flannery, Jr.
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About the American Mental Health Foundation
The American Mental Health Foundation has a rich history and a bright future. AMHF is a research organization dedicated to the welfare of people suffering from emotional problems, especially the disabled and elderly. AMHF is vitally interested in reaching the greatest possible number of people with its mission, at present through its publishing arm, American Mental Health Foundation Books; through the two acclaimed volumes prepared by long-time director of research the late Dr. Stefan de Schill—both books available on its website in English, French, German—as well as Dr. de Schill's Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes, from Prometheus Books; and in the not-distant future via a program informed by educational seminars and workshops, with outreach to the communities of the disabled and elderly to address the special emotional issues of these populations. From its founding Mission Statement of 1924 . . .
Throughout his remarkable career, Stefan de Schill was a tireless campaigner for improved methods of mental-health training and treatment. He was a pioneer in the field of group psychotherapy, by which the patient could benefit from the group dynamic as well as from the goal of more affordable treatment.
Born Stefan Sarkozi de Somogyi-Schill on April 4, 1917, in Vienna, de Schill was the author and editor of several landmark books based on AMHF research, including Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes: The Resurrection of Psychotherapy; The Challenge for Group Psychotherapy; and The Challenge for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes is published by, and available from, Prometheus Books.
De Schill was the son of a banker. Among his father's clients were members of the Austrian government; at considerable risk, the Somogyi-Schill family also donated their financial means to the fight against the Nazis.
De Schill studied under Otto Kauders of the Psychiatric-Neurological University Clinic of Vienna, and later at the Université de Paris. Following the Austrian Anschluss and several years in France, de Schill worked in Brazil, from 1940 to 1947, as a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, as well as a professor at the Catholic University and the Federal University of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.
Since 1961, de Schill was also vice president of the International Institute for Mental Health Research, Zurich and Geneva, and an officer of the Fondation des Arpades, Schaan.
Over 80,000 copies of the Introduction to Extended, Intensive Group Psychotherapy (originally entitled Introduction to Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy) were sold in six successive editions. Eventually, a major volume entitled The Challenge for Group Psychotherapy, which advocated this treatment, was published in four languages (1970-74): German (Klett); French (Presses Universitaires de France—the first work on group psychotherapy to be published under the auspices of a major psychoanalytic society); English (International University Press); and Italian (Feltrinelli).
Author and group therapist, the late Denise LaHullier (1928-2006) was Coordinator of International Studies, AMHF. Born in France, she began life as a ballet dancer before AMHF became her life-work as a researcher and therapist in a group setting. She is a contributor to the AMHF publication The Challenge for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and other works.
Dr. Otto Kauders was a mentor to Stefan de Schill when de Schill studied under Kauders at the Psychiatric-Neurological University Clinic of Vienna. Dr. Kauders is thought to have first introduced LSD in the U.S. as a drug treatment for schizophrenia. In 1949, the Viennese doctor traveled to the United States in search of research funds. He gave a conference at Boston Psychopathic Hospital, which is considered to be the first discussion of LSD (or d-lysergic acid diethylamide).
With his wide-ranging insights into the human psyche and its spiritual dimension—both from the Eastern and Western worldviews—Paul Brunton was a profound influence on the wider outlook of Stefan de Schill, as well as on his work with AMHF.
Paul Brunton was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and guru. He lived among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. With his life dedicated to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged with the task of communicating his experiences to others and, as the first person to write accounts of what he learned in the East from a Western perspective, his works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. He believed that meditation and the inward quest are not exclusively for monks and hermits, but will also support those living normal, active lives in the Western world.
Madeleine Sherwood was a friend of AMHF as well as star of stage ('The Crucible,' by Arthur Miller, opening-night cast), screen ('Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'), and television ('The Flying Nun').
The object of this Association is to promote, advance, promulgate, perform or carry out, enter into, cultivate, establish and organize scientific research and studies in the field of mental health, psychology, psychoanalysis and related domains; and to organize work groups and seminars for staff members to engage in other educational work.
AMHF Board of Directors
- Sister Joan Curtin is director, Catechetical Office, the New York Archdiocese Catechetical Office.
- Jack Fowler (treasurer) is the publisher of National Review, an influential magazine of political opinion.
- Gene Gollogly (vice president) is the CEO of Lantern Books as well as SteinerBooks.
- Evander Lomke (president & executive director) is a former vice president of Continuum International.
- Thea Lucas (secretary) has a law degree from Utrecht University.
- Monroe W. Spero, M.D. (member emeritus), was in private psychiatric practice for many years.
- William Van Ornum, Ph.D., is a NYS-licensed psychologist, award-winning author, and professor of psychology, Marist College.
Stefan de Schill
Dr. Stefan de Schill, AMHF Research Director, 1948 to 2005
Throughout his remarkable career, Stefan de Schill was a tireless campaigner for improved methods of mental-health training and treatment. He was a pioneer in the field of group psychotherapy, by which the patient could benefit from the group dynamic as well as from the goal of more affordable treatment.
Born Stefan Sarkozi de Somogyi-Schill on April 4, 1917, in Vienna, de Schill was the author and editor of several landmark books based on AMHF research, including Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes: The Resurrection of Psychotherapy; The Challenge for Group Psychotherapy; and The Challenge for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Crucial Choices—Crucial Changes is published by, and available from, Prometheus Books.
De Schill was the son of a banker. Among his father's clients were members of the Austrian government; at considerable risk, the Somogyi-Schill family also donated their financial means to the fight against the Nazis.
De Schill studied under Otto Kauders of the Psychiatric-Neurological University Clinic of Vienna, and later at the Université de Paris. Following the Austrian Anschluss and several years in France, de Schill worked in Brazil, from 1940 to 1947, as a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, as well as a professor at the Catholic University and the Federal University of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.
Since 1961, de Schill was also vice president of the International Institute for Mental Health Research, Zurich and Geneva, and an officer of the Fondation des Arpades, Schaan.
Over 80,000 copies of the Introduction to Extended, Intensive Group Psychotherapy (originally entitled Introduction to Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy) were sold in six successive editions. Eventually, a major volume entitled The Challenge for Group Psychotherapy, which advocated this treatment, was published in four languages (1970-74): German (Klett); French (Presses Universitaires de France—the first work on group psychotherapy to be published under the auspices of a major psychoanalytic society); English (International University Press); and Italian (Feltrinelli).
Authors in the series "The Search for the Future"
- Stephen A. Appelbaum
- Stefan de Schill
- Jerome D. Frank
- John E. Gedo
- Merton M. Gill
- Andre Haynal
- Horst Kachele
- Otto F. Kernberg
- Denise LaHullier
- Serge Lebovici
- Marguerite F. Levy
- William W. Messner
- Robert Michels
- Jacques Palaci
- Malcolm Pines
- Rainer Richter
- Harold Sampson
- Steven S. Sharfstein
- S. R. Slavson
- Monroe W. Spero
- Robert J. Stoller
- Alan A. Stone
- Milton Theaman
- Robert S. Wallerstein
- L. Wentworth-Rohr
- Joseph Wilder
- Alexander Wolf
AMHF National Board of Governors (ca. 2000)
- Harry B. Anderson, Former Chairman of the Board, Merrill Lynch International, New York
- William R. Arthur, Former Chairman of the Board, Merrill Lynch International, New York
- Stewart Keill, Professor of Psychiatry, New York University; Former Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland; Former Assistant Commissioner of Mental Health, New York State
- R. B. London, Executive Director, Mental Health Foundation, London
- Otto Klineberg, Honorary President, Word Federation for Mental Health
- Steven S. Sharfstein, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland; President and Medical Director, Sheppard Pratt, Baltimore
- Dan Stevens, Director of Development, New York University Medical Center
Past Presidents
- Hon. Harvey J. Ross, Former Member of Legislature, State of New York
- Richard Weil Jr., Former President, R. H. Macy; Past President, National Association for Mental Health
Professional Board (ca. 2000)
- E. James Anthony
- Jacob Chwast
- Robert W. Gibson
- Merton M. Gill
- Toni Graf-Baumann
- Andre Haynal
- Marvin Hurvich
- Hebry Krystal
- John R. Lion
- Lester Luborsky
- Julian Metzoff
- Louis R. Ormont
- Malcolm Pines
- George H. Pollock
- Leo Rangell
- Joseph Reppen
- Nathan Schnaper
- Jon A. Shaw
- Stefan de Somogyi-Schill
- Paul E. Stepansky
- Helm Stiertim
- Hans H. Strupp
- Robert S. Wallerstein
- Leon Wurmser
- Valentine W. Zetlin
Committee on Public Education
- Donald Lehr
- Charles Roth
- William Van Ornum (2008)
Who's Who (ca. 1955)
- Anthony Hyde (Chairman) , Vice President, McCann-Erickson, Inc.
- Dr. Stefan de Schill (Executive Director), AMHF
- Anne Diamond, Past President, Women's Lawyers Association
- Emerson Foote, Former Executive Vice President, McCann-Erickson, Inc.
- Dr. David Gerst, Exam. Psychiatrist, U.S. Army and Air Force; Senior Clinic Assistant, Neurological OPD, Mount Sinai Hospital
- John McCarthy, U.S. Director, O.E.E.C.
- Ellen Lehman McClusky, President, Ellen Lehman McClusky Interiors, Inc.
- Robert W. Robb, Senior Vice President, Reach, McClinton and Company
- G. Jack Rudolf Jr., Former Director, Moore-McCormack Lines
- Paul C. Smith, Former President, Crowell-Collier Publishing Company
- William B. Thompson, Treasurer, Merritt, Chapman and Scott
- Clyde M. Vandeburg, President, Vandeburg-Linkletter Associates
- Richard Weil Jr., Former President, R. H. Macy; Past President, National Association for Mental Health
AMHF Founders
Foundation Associate
- James A. Foley, Surrogate, New York County
- Joseph L. Greenberg, Esq., President, National Foundation for Voluntary Adoptions
- Peter A. Hendrick, Justice of Supreme Court, State of New York
- Dr. Smith Ely Jeliffe, Psychiatrist, Neur. City Hospital for Nervous Diseases
- James E. Lynch
- Dr. L. Samuel Manson, Psychiatrist, Neurological Hospital for Def. and Joint Diseases
- George Z. Medalie, Judge, Court of Appeals, State of New York
- Norman Allen Merritt, Postmaster, Washington, D.C.
- Hon. Harvey J. Ross, Former Member of Legislature, State of New York
- Luke D. Stapleton, Justice, Appellate Division, Supreme Court, State of New York
- Philip A. Warner, Vice President, New York Central Railroad
Other AMHF History
Denise LaHullier
Denise LaHullier, AMHF Research Assistant, author, member of the board of directors, and longtime companion to Dr. Stefan De Schill
Otto Kauders
Dr. Otto Kauders, under whom Stefan de Schill studied, circa 1940
Paul Brunton
Dr. Stefan De Schill with Paul Brunton
Paul Brunton was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and guru. He lived among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. With his life dedicated to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged with the task of communicating his experiences to others and, as the first person to write accounts of what he learned in the East from a Western perspective, his works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. He believed that meditation and the inward quest are not exclusively for monks and hermits, but will also support those living normal, active lives in the Western world.
Madeleine Sherwood
Madeleine Sherwood, star of stage and screen, and friend of the foundation
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