Mental well being looms large as a topic of importance for people living with HIV.
In Futures Five (2006), Grierson and others reported that in the 6 months prior to completing the survey, 28.5% of people living with HIV took medicines prescribed for depression, of which 15.7% were an antidepressant. Compare this to the National Health Survey (2006) produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, where only 5.2% of the Australian population reported having taken an antidepressant in the two weeks prior to the survey. For some people with HIV, the diagnosis of depression occurred before being diagnosed with HIV. For others HIV became the catalyst for their depression.
I remember attending counselling for many months after being diagnosed with HIV. For me this was a critical step in recovering some mind balance and mental well being through exploring my beliefs and mind set with my counsellor. Where necessary I had to reset and reprogram some beliefs so that my attitude to living with HIV supported my whole well being. Through this I recognised that HIV is a health challenge, not a moral challenge. Further, I believe that HIV treatments are good, designed mostly by humble scientists with their desire to advance humanity. This particular belief was particularly important when I started to take HIV treatments in 1997.
Some common strategies to maintain a positive outlook are exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and spending time with friends who also have a positive outlook. For some people living with HIV developing a philosophy on life and or a spirituality is essential, especially when faced with your own mortality and the meaning of life. How you come to personally answer these questions can impact dramatically on your future choices and subsequent mental well being.
Personally and as a peer educator living with HIV, I work on strategies to deal with social rejection associated with disclosure of HIV. Developing self awareness, monitoring your self talk and converting any negative talk to a positive life affirming conversation with yourself is critical. ‘Me’ time, doing the things you love with and in abundance such as simple things like time at the beach with friends is another way to maintain a positive outlook. Identifying and participating in activities where you can fully express your being are some of the building blocks to reduce the likelihood of becoming negative or depressed.
The community also has a vital role to play. Without the community’s compassion and support, services for people living with HIV would not have been created and advocated for. I would like to personally thank the people in the community for their contribution and commitment to the mental well being of everyone, including people living with HIV.
