Psycho-social Issues and HIV/AIDS - TIHAN

PSYCHOSOC
AND HIV

TIH
Training for Care &

CIAL ISSUES
V/AIDS

HAN
Support Volunteers

WHAT IS PSYCHOSO

 Psychology + Sociolo

 Psychosocial developmen
emotions, and maturity lev
course of their lifetime. D
psychosocially at different
biological processes and e

 People living with HIV hav
issues they deal with. It is
the mind and emotions do
immune system and their

OCIAL?

ogy

nt is how a person's mind,
vel develop throughout the
Different people will develop
t speeds depending on
environmental interactions.

ve very specific psycho-social
s important to understand that
o have an impact on the

quality of life.

QUALITY OF LIFE

 Think about your own qu

Do you have the
What is your da

What’s you
Do you enjoy y

What about y
Is your self-image p

 As you continue to view
about how might these c
person living with HIV/AI

uality of life.

e ability to work?
aily energy level?
ur diet like?
your social life?
your sex life?
positive or negative?

this presentation, think
concerns may affect a
IDS differently.

WHEN JUST DIAGNO

 When a person is newly diag
may feel a deep sense of gr

 Grieving is an unavoidable p

 We grieve when we lose peo
with HIV/AIDS, they may be
about being diagnosed with
illness that can threaten thei
functioning.

 People who are infected with
profound sense of loss on m
addressed, it can lead to fee
continued high risk behavior
with medical care and acting

OSED…

gnosed with HIV/AIDS, they
rief and loss.
part of living for all of us.
ople and pets. For people
egin to grieve when thinking
a potentially debilitating
ir lives or impair their

h HIV are faced with a
many levels. If this grief is not
elings of helplessness,
r, a lack of follow-through
g out with intense emotions.

GRIEF & LOSS

 Grief is a normal human
loss.

 It is an important process
 It helps people let go of ol

new ones.
 This diagram depicts the

stages of grief.

Denial Anxiety Depr

response to any kind of

that should not be rushed.
ld dreams and gain

Fear Re-entry into
pre-existing
Guilt Coping developmental
ression
tasks with
Anger new skills,
perspectives,
insights and

attitudes

STIGMA & DISCRIM

 “Stigma is the co-occurrence
separation, status loss, and d
which power is exercised. (Link

 There is so much stigma, sha
HIV/AIDS that the stigma itse
separate from the medical di

 Misconceptions or stereotype

 Drug User?
 Gay?
 Multiple Partners?
 Punishment from God?
 Deserve to get this disease
 Prostitute?

MINATION

e of labeling, stereotyping,
discrimination” in a situation in

k & Phelan, 2001, p.363)

ame & misinformation about
elf creates issues to deal with
iagnosis.
es about HIV/AIDS include:

STIGMA CONTINUED…

 Stigma can prevent p
about and acknowled
cause of illness & dea

 It can prevent HIV-infe
seeking counseling, o
psychological care an
measures to avoid inf

people from talking
dging HIV as a major
ath.

ected people from
obtaining medical and
nd taking preventative
fecting others.

STIGMA CONTINUED…

 Prevention behaviors

 A woman with HIV mi
use a condom but mig
because of the stigma
suggestions of HIV ris

Click Here t
short video

 Then click the play bu
return to this slidesho

may carry stigma.

ight want her partner to
ght be reluctant to ask
a associated with the
sk.

to watch this
o on Stigma

utton. When finished,
ow.

SELF ESTEEM & SEL

 People with HIV/AID
a drop in self estee

The stigma associa
sexually transmitted

Questioning one’s s
deserve this?”

Internalizing homop
I got AIDS.”

Begin to see one’s

LF CRITICISM

DS often experience
em because of:

ated with HIV being a
d disease.
self, “What did I do to

phobia, “Because I am gay,

self as “toxic’ to others

SOCIAL ISOLATION

 People with HIV/AIDS
their families & other r

 Some family and frien
because of:

 Fear of death
 Helplessness
 Fear of “catching” HIV
 Shame and pressure f

S worry about telling
relationships
nds choose to withdraw

V/AIDS
from the stigma

PEOPLE WITH HIV/AID

 Who will stand by me
 What effect will it have

relationship?
 Will I still find love?
 Can I still date other p
 Will I be disowned by

differently?
 What will my friends s

DS WORRY ABOUT…

e?
e on my current

people?
my family or treated

say?

PEOPLE WITH HIV/AID
JOBS

 Some worries assoc
job may include:

 Can I still get insuran

 Will I be fired if some

 How do I explain call
frequent trips to the b
day?

 How do I explain not
company blood drive

 When will I have to s

 How will I support my

DS WORRY ABOUT

ciated with a person’s

nce if I change jobs?
eone at work finds out?
ling out sick a lot or
bathroom during the

t participating in the
e?
stop working?
yself and my family?

EFFECT ON INTIMAC

 Living with HIV/AIDS
having intimate or sex

 Self isolation can incr
depression and comp
sexuality.

CY & SEXUALITY

can be a barrier to
xual relationships.

rease a sense of
plicate intimacy and

CONFIDENDIATLITY

 People with HIV/AIDS
confidentiality. Decidin
is not easy. They mig

 Should I just keep this
 How do I get help with

my status?
 How do I tell my loved
 What can I do to assu

social life?

Y & DISCLOSURE…

S worry about
ng who and when to tell
ght wonder:

s to myself?
hout everyone finding out

d ones?
ure a safe home, work and

SPIRITUALITY

 Spirituality & religious
increasing importance
HIV/AIDS.

 Supporting the spiritu
living with HIV/AIDS a
critical component of
can engender hope.

s beliefs, may take on
e to people living with

ual needs of people
and their families is a
compassionate care. It

Common Mental Health

h Issues for People Living
with HIV/AIDS

DEPRESSION & HIV

 Depression is a mood dis
 It is more than just feelin

more intense and lasts lo
Depression can be linked

 Events in your daily life
 Chemical changes in the b
 Side effects of required m
 Several physical disorders

 Rates of depression amo
HIV/AIDS are as high as
10% of the general popu

V/AIDS

sorder.
ng sad or grieving. It is
onger than it should.
d to:

brain
medications

s

ong people living with
s 60%, as opposed to 5-
ulation.

ANXIETY DISORDER

 Anxiety can develop b
uncertainty about HIV
or issues unrelated to

 Symptoms can includ

 Mild distress
 Major panic attacks
 Excessive worrying

RS & HIV/AIDS

because of a person’s
V infection & treatment
o HIV.

de:

OTHER MENTAL HEA

 There are a number o
issues witch can affec
HIV/AIDS, including, b

 Bi-Polar Disorder
 Panic Disorder
 Post Traumatic Stress
 Personality Disorders

ALTH ISSUES

of other mental health
ct a person living with
but not limited to:

s Disorder (PTSD)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

 Some people living w
substances for a varie

 Help to control or coun
medications

 To socialize
 As part of a process o
 To escape
 To self medicate for m

they’re dealing with

E & HIV/AIDS

with HIV/AIDS use
ety of reasons:

nteract side effects of

of harm reduction

mental health problems

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

 Interactions with pres
 Possible overdose
 Addiction
 Non-adherence to pre

treatment
 Housing and/or pover
 Missing health care a

E CONCERNS

scribed medications

escribed medication
rty issues
appointments

HOW TO RESPOND TO
ISSUES

 As a volunteer, if you
how to respond, spea
supervisor for guidanc

 TIHAN – Please talk to
CarePartner Support

O SUBSTANCE ABUSE

have concerns about
ak to your direct
ce and support.

o the Director of

SUICIDE AND HIV/A

 Many events can trigger
people living with HIV/AI

 Learning about their posit
AIDS diagnosis.

 Fear of disclosing to famil
 Losing a significant relatio
 Starting antiretroviral thera
 Noticing the 1st symptoms
 Undergoing major illness
 Losing a job
 Experiencing major chang
 Requiring evaluation for d

AIDS

suicidal thoughts among
IDS. They can include:

tive HIV status; receiving an

ly & friends
onship
apy
s
or hospitalization

ges in lifestyle
dementia

SUICIDE AND HIV/A

 Suicidal thoughts with
hopelessness and inte
serious and must be a
carefully.

 The risk of suicide is e
people who have men
chronic illness.

AIDS

h associated feelings of
ent to die are very
assessed properly and

especially high for
ntal health issues or

HOW TO RESPOND TO

 You can ask probing q

 “Are you thinking abou
 “Do you have a plan to

 Call 911 if you believe
imminent danger

 Speak to your agency
them of your observat

O SUICIDE THREATS

questions:

ut hurting yourself?”
o hurt yourself?”

e the person is in

y supervisor to inform
tions