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 Centre for Addictionand Mental Health |
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ARQ2: Question B7 - HIV concerns
HIV is a big concern for a lot of people. Can you tell me in what ways this may be true for you?
Relevance/intentHIV and AIDS is a principal component in the lives of gay and bisexual men. Although more prevalent in the gay male community, HIV and AIDS is a concern for all LGBTTTIQ people who engage in high-risk substance use or sexual practices. Substance use and depression may increase clients’ risk of acquiring HIV infection. However, substance use may also reduce fears around sexual behaviour and acquiring HIV infection. Clients have concerns about preventing and treating HIV, HIV-testing and safer sexual practices. Therapists/counsellors need to assess clients’ concerns or fears about the disease, as well as the impact it has had on them as members of LGBTTTIQ communities. HIV and AIDS has had a major effect on LGBTTTIQ communities, especially gay and bixexual men. Most gay/bisexual men know someone who is HIV-positive and have lost partners or friends to AIDS. Therapists/counsellors should keep in mind the extreme grief and loss that HIV and AIDS has caused in the gay/bisexual male communities. HIV and AIDS has also had a big impact on the transgendered and transsexual communities, including increased transmission rates, particularly for transwomen. Many other LGBTTTIQ people, including lesbian and bixexual women, are actively involved in HIV/AIDS activism, or caring for friends with HIV/AIDS, and so they too may be impacted. Additional probesAre there times when you thought a lot about or worried about HIV or AIDS? Are you concerned about your own HIV status? Are you concerned about a loved one’s HIV status? Has the AIDS epidemic had a personal impact on you? Client perceptions“Drinking drove away my concerns about HIV. When I was feeling really down and depressed and at my worst with self-esteem and all that kind of stuff, getting drunk was a good way to throw all caution to the winds.” Therapist/counsellor perceptions“I’m thinking about the whole thing for a gay man around HIV and being affected by HIV, and lovers dying and friends dying, and living in a community that is dealing with this stress.” “Anyone who’s suffering from low self-esteem or depression is not caring about themselves and are going to put themselves in high-risk situations. They aren’t going to bother having safer sex, because they do not care.” “There are a lot of different issues. One of them is how does your sexual life go on after contracting HIV? How do you introduce condoms in the relationship?”
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Last updated: Mar 14, 2007 9:51 AM Published: Nov 21, 2008 1:54 PM ID#P19874 |