World AIDS Day

By Annelle Primm, MD, MPH

World AIDS Day

December 1, 2014

Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-Free Generation

World AIDS Day is a key opportunity to raise awareness and to commemorate those who lost their lives to this often deadly disease. But, today, we can also be hopeful about achieving an AIDS-free generation. Increased access to treatment, new and better prevention services and care, and advances in treatment are all reasons for hopefulness. And that amounts to greater peace of mind.

An estimated 35 million people worldwide have HIV and more than 39 million people have died from the virus since the first cases in 1981. In the U.S., more than 1.2 million people live with HIV, but nearly 1 in 7 of those don’t know they have the virus.

An estimated 50,000 people in the U.S. are newly infected each year. It’s why I continue to tell people the importance of getting tested. There’s no shame, just a need for information.

What is the Connection Between HIV and Mental Health?

Mental and neurological disorders have an intertwined and often complex relationship with HIV and AIDS. Yet mental health issues are often overlooked in HIV interventions and treatment.

About 60% of people with HIV also have depression. Sometimes one may be tempted to “blame” depression on their HIV status, but the reality is that depression can happen to anyone and treatment works

Pre-existing mental disorders (including substance use) can complicate HIV-related illness. It’s important for physicians to know all they need to know about your health, and for you to be comfortable sharing

Nearly 50% of people with HIV experience impaired motor skills, trouble with memory and poor concentration. If you experience such changes, those are important to inform your doctor about

Mental illness can make it more difficult for people to adhere to HIV-medication regimens

New antiretroviral treatments and combination therapies can affect the central nervous system and/or have psychiatric side effects

Mental illnesses can be especially challenging to recognize and diagnose in people with HIV/AIDS. That’s why the APA works to educate and provide tools and training to physicians.

Unfortunately, both HIV and mental illness still carry a significant burden of stigma and discrimination.

As HIV/AIDS increasingly becomes a chronic disorder with the improvement of treatments, the need for mental health care and services is rising. World AIDS Day is also a day to recognize the many psychiatrists and other mental health clinicians working with HIV patients who also have complicated psychiatric or substance use comorbidities.

Looking for ways to take action? Here are a few simple, powerful, and engaging ways you can take action: