AIDS 2020
An Overlooked Epidemic: Mental Health and Women Living with HIV
Supporting mental health and emotional well-being is one of the most overlooked aspects of treatment, care and support within the HIV response. HIV diagnosis can cause trauma, anxiety and depression, or exacerbate existing anxiety and mood swings and mental health disorders. Anxiety and self-stigma around job and housing security, self-esteem, status disclosure and building healthy romantic relationships, including fear and anxiety due to HIV criminalization, can affect the mental health, self-esteem and emotional well-being of people living with HIV. Even within HIV activism and the workplace, we replicate traumas and social inequalities perpetuating cycles of oppression, trauma and stress on those within our community. In this session, women living with HIV will share their lives work through research and advocacy in the realms of mental health and resilience in the context of gender -based violence, HIV criminalization, health care violations, sex worker, poverty and inter-movement aggression.
Lillian Mworeko, Uganda, Mental Health and SRHR
Olena Stryzhak, Ukraine, Gender Based Violence + HIV
Sara Thara Maga, Nepal, Young Women and Mental Health
Vanessa Johnson, USA, Macro and Micro Aggression and Movement Trauma - Lateral Violence
Chair: Morolake Odetoyinbo, Nigeria/US