Despite major progress in treating and preventing HIV, HIV stigma remains rife, contributing to poor mental health, isolation and loneliness, and often preventing people from getting the help they need.
The importance of appropriate mental health support for people living with HIV has long been discussed and researched. However, the types of support available and the provision of that support are still not consistent across the country. This leaves people falling through cracks in the system or having to rely on generic mental health services.
The findings of this report demonstrate the limitations of relying on IAPT alone for people living with HIV and the need for improvements to services. While IAPT can work for some people living with HIV, issues such as a lack of HIV literacy and poor integration with wider HIV care hamper its effectiveness. This leads to unsatisfactory outcomes and poorer patient satisfaction.