Adedotun A. Ogunbajo

This session featured presentations on the effect of mental health on HIV-related outcome for key populations (young women and sexual minority men) living with HIV. It also examined the broader barriers to mental health seeking behavior among these groups and opportunities for interventions to improve psychosocial health outcomes.

Dr. Saal presented on a study that analyzed data from a cohort of young South African women living with HIV. They found that higher levels of HIV-related stigma and poor retention in HIV care was associated with higher level of suicidality. However, social support attenuated the relationship between those relationships. This led the authors to conclude the need for interventions that strengthen social support services may improve mental health and reduce suicidality among young people living with HIV. Dr. Doraivelu shared findings of a survey of young Black sexual minority men living with HIV that aimed to examine predictor of mental health service utilization and unmet needs. They found that homelessness, severe anxiety and participation in non-organized religion was associated with mental healthcare utilization. Dr. Kroch’s study analyzed data from the Ontario HIV Cohort Study, where they explored the association between loneliness and antiretroviral medication adherence. They found that people with higher loneliness scores were more likely to skip medication. Dr. Kreniske presented findings from a study that compared multilevel predictors of attempted suicide among youth affected by HIV. Factors associated with having attempted suicide were: sexual minority identity, lower self-concept, negative life events, and history of incarceration.

The research is clear on mental health both adversely affecting people living with HIV and being an additional barrier to engagement in HIV prevention and care services. These studies have added to that evidence base while providing additional insight into the drivers of the mental health struggles marginalized groups are constantly confronted with. More work is needed on the testing of interventions aimed at improving the mental health and wellness of people living with and at risk for HIV.