The delaying effect of stigma on mental health help‐seeking in Sri Lanka

Background: Mental health stigma has been associated with delays in seeking treatment. Aims: To describe perceived stigma experienced by patients and carers in Sri Lanka and to determine the effects of stigma on help‐seeking delay. Methods: Survey of outpatients and family carers (n = 118 dyads) attending two psychiatric hospitals in Sri Lanka, using the Disclosure and Discrimination subscales of the Stigma Scale. Results: Stigma was positively related to help‐seeking delay for carers but not patients. Public stigma experienced by carers accounted for 23% of the variance in help‐seeking delay. Conclusion: Reducing stigma may reduce help‐seeking delays during the course of treatment

Development of photodegradable low density polyethylene blends for industrial applications

Photo activators were used to develop photodegradable Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) blends. The photo activators such as TiO2 Coumarin (1.2-Benzopyrone), Camphor (2-Bornanone) were added to Low Density Polyethylene (LPDE) separately with different proportions. The mixture were properly prepared using a laboratory scale internal mixture. The mixed sample were molded in to thin sheets using tensile, impact, water absorption and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscope (FTIR) at normal environment and exposure to UV lights. The environmental photodegradability of polymer blend was investigated by determining the time depend stress-strain properties, weight loss and water absorption properties after expose to normal environment and UV source. Tensile strength decreased with increasing UV exposure time of all specimens. Similarly water absorption and weight loss increased with UV exposure time