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Aims.To identify the common causal beliefs of mental illness in a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian community and describe the sociodemographic associations to said beliefs. The factor structure to the causal beliefs scale is explored. The causal beliefs relating to five different mental illnesses (alcohol abuse, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dementia and schizophrenia) and desire for social distance are also investigated.Methods.Data from 3006 participants from a nationwide vignette-based study on mental health literacy were analysed using factor analysis and multiple logistic regression to address the aims. Participants answered questions related to sociodemographic information, causal beliefs of mental illness and their desire for social distance towards those with mental illness.Results.Physical causes, psychosocial causes and personality causes were endorsed by the sample. Sociodemographic differences including ethnic, gender and age differences in causal beliefs were found in the sample. Differences in causal beliefs were shown across different mental illness vignettes though psychosocial causes was the most highly attributed cause across vignettes (endorsed by 97.9% of respondents), followed by personality causes (83.5%) and last, physical causes (37%). Physical causes were more likely to be endorsed for OCD, depression and schizophrenia. Psychosocial causes were less often endorsed for OCD. Personality causes were less endorsed for dementia but more associated with depression.Conclusions.The factor structure of the causal beliefs scale is not entirely the same as that found in previous research. Further research on the causal beliefs endorsed by Southeast Asian communities should be conducted to investigate other potential causes such as biogenetic factors and spiritual/supernatural causes. Mental health awareness campaigns should address causes of mental illness as a topic. Lay beliefs in the different causes must be acknowledged and it would be beneficial for the public to be informed of the causes of some of the most common mental illnesses in order to encourage help-seeking and treatment compliance.

Aims.The ability to recognise a mental illness has important implications as it can aid in timely and appropriate help-seeking, and ultimately improve outcomes for people with mental illness. This study aims to explore the association between recognition and help-seeking preferences and stigmatising attitudes, for alcohol abuse, dementia, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia, using a vignette-based approach.Methods.This was a population-based, cross-sectional survey conducted among Singapore Residents (n= 3006) aged 18–65 years. All respondents were asked what they think is wrong with the person in the vignette and who they should seek help from. Respondents were also administered the Personal and Perceived sub scales of the Depression Stigma Scale and the Social Distance Scale. Weighted frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables. A series of multiple logistic and linear regression models were performed separately by vignette to generate odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the relationship between help-seeking preference, and recognition and beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for the relationship between stigma and recognition.Results.Correct recognition was associated with less preference to seek help from family and friends for depression and schizophrenia. Recognition was also associated with increased odds of endorsing seeking help from a psychiatric hospital for dementia, depression and schizophrenia, while there was also an increased preference to seek help from a psychologist and psychiatrist for depression. Recognition was associated with less personal and perceived stigma for OCD and less personal stigma for schizophrenia, however, increased odds of social distancing for dementia.Conclusion.The ability to correctly recognise a mental illness was associated with less preference to seek help from informal sources, whilst increased preference to seek help from mental health professionals and services and less personal and perceived stigma. These findings re-emphasise the need to improve mental health literacy and reinforce the potential benefits recognition can have to individuals and the wider community in Singapore.

Aims.The current study aimed to: (i) describe the extent of overall stigma as well as the differences in stigma towards people with alcohol abuse, dementia, depression, schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as (ii) establish the dimensions of stigma and examine its correlates, in the general population of Singapore, using a vignette approach.Methods.Data for the current study came from a larger nation-wide cross-sectional study of mental health literacy conducted in Singapore. The study population comprised Singapore Residents (Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents) aged 18–65 years who were living in Singapore at the time of the survey. All respondents were administered the Personal and Perceived scales of the Depression Stigma scale and the Social Distance scale to measure personal stigma and social distance, respectively. Weighted mean and standard error of the mean were calculated for continuous variables, and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Exploratory structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis were used to establish the dimensions of stigma. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to examine factors associated with each of the stigma scale scores.Results.The mean age of the respondents was 40.9 years and gender was equally represented (50.9% were males). The findings from the factor analysis revealed that personal stigma formed two distinct dimensions comprising ‘weak-not-sick’ and ‘dangerous/unpredictable’ while social distance stigma items loaded strongly into a single factor. Those of Malay and Indian ethnicity, lower education, lower income status and those who were administered the depression and alcohol abuse vignette were significantly associated with higher weak-not-sick scores. Those of Indian ethnicity, 6 years of education and below, lower income status and those who were administered the alcohol abuse vignette were significantly associated with higher dangerous/unpredictable scores. Those administered the alcohol abuse vignette were associated with higher social distance scores.Conclusion.This population-wide study found significant stigma towards people with mental illness and identified specific groups who have more stigmatising attitudes. The study also found that having a friend or family member with similar problems was associated with having lower personal as well as social distance stigma. There is a need for well-planned and culturally relevant anti-stigma campaigns in this population that take into consideration the findings of this study.

River islands are defined as discrete areas of woodland vegetation located in the riverbed and surrounded by either water-filled channels or exposed gravel. To be defined as such, they also have to exhibit stability over time and remain exposed during bank-full flows. River islands are very important from both a morphological and an ecological point of view, as they represent the most natural state of a fluvial system and are to a large degree influenced by human pressure. This study aims to analyze morphological and vegetation characteristics of three types of river islands, pioneer, young and stable, and their dynamics after different flood events in the Tagliamento River, a natural gravel bed river with highly natural conditions. The Tagliamento River, with a length of 178 km, is the main river of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, and it represents a link between Alpine and Adriatic zones. Because of the limited human pressure, the main course of Tagliamento is characterized by highly complex fluvial dynamics. The analyses were carried out in two sub-reaches characterized by different dominant morphology but equally low human pressure. Island dynamics, in relation with flood events, have been analyzed using aerial photos taken over two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011. Mean elevation of surface and maximum height of vegetation were estimated for each river island using digital models obtained from two LiDAR datasets. The results suggest that river islands lie at different elevations, and this implies a different resistance capacity during flood events. Pioneer river islands and young river islands lie at lower elevations than stable islands causing a total or partial incapacity to survive during considerable flood events. In most cases, the islands’ typology (pioneer, young, or stable) is cancelled by ordinary floods. Stable islands lie at higher elevations, and only intense and infrequent flood events, i.e. recurrence interval (RI) >10–15 years, are able to determine substantial erosions. The presence of high vegetation, in some of our study cases higher than 30 m, contributes to increase the resistance of stable islands. River islands are very dynamic elements, strictly associated with the occurrence of major floods and to the morphological characteristics of the fluvial system. The main morphological changes have been documented in the braided sub-reach; the highly dynamic response to changes of the fluvial reach also affects the islands stability. However, the different resistance capacity during flood events of pioneer, young, and stable islands as well as the different bank erosion capacity are important aspects to better understand dynamics of fluvial islands. In this sense, the study could be helpful to predict the hydraulic hazard linked to the morphological changes and to formulate more effective flood management programs.

Holographic optical tweezers are fast becoming an established tool in micro- and nano-science. We present developments in both the interface and the underlying technology as used in our lab, along with some of the uses we have put them to. Real time particle tracking from stereoscopic video images enables us to determine position to nanometre precision in 3D. This can be performed in real time at several kHz, allowing us to positionclamp trapped objects in 3D and measure positions and forces with optically controlled tools. Our multi-touch iPad interface gives interactive control over multiple traps at the same time, which opens new possibilities for controlling tools, structures and other dynamic processes.