Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: The Need for an Integrated Response

ABSTRACT Context of the study: Impressive biomedical advancements in HIV prevention and treatment have led to aspirational efforts to end the HIV epidemic. However, these efforts will not achieve the desired goals without addressing the significant mental health and substance use problems among people living with HIV (PLWH) and people vulnerable to acquiring HIV. These problems aggravate the many social and economic barriers to accessing adequate and sustained healthcare, and are among the most challenging barriers to achieving the end of the HIV epidemic. Rates of mental health problems are higher among both people vulnerable to acquiring HIV and PLWH, compared with the general population. Research objective: The objective was to find out how psychosocial influences relating to faster disease progression include life-event stress, sustained depression, denial/avoidance coping, and negative expectancies affect mental health of PLWH. Conversely, protective psychosocial factors like active coping, finding new meaning, and stress management. In studying long survivors of HIV/ AIDS, we found protective effects on health of life involvement, collaborative relationship with health care provider, emotional expression, depression (conversely), and perceived stress (conversely). Research Methodology: A considerable body of evidence is reviewed in this article. Various articles and research publications relating to mental health of PLWH were taken into consideration. Psychosocial factors play an important role in progression of HIV infection, its morbidity and mortality. Key findings and practical implications: Despite the significant challenges that mental health presents to HIV prevention and treatment, there are many important and unmet opportunities to integrate mental healthcare with HIV care. Finally, biological factors are also a major determinant of disease progression and include genetics and age of the host, viral strain and virulence, medication and several immune response factors on which psychosocial influences could impact. However, we need to prioritize mental health treatment with appropriate resources to address the current mental health screening and treatment gaps. Integration of mental health screening and care into all HIV testing and treatment settings would not only strengthen HIV prevention and care outcomes, but it would additionally improve global access to mental healthcare.