HIV/AIDS

About the Program

Responding to HIV/AIDS

The growing numbers of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS makes it important to get the latest word out about the psychosocial and neuropsychiatric problems related to both the illness and its treatment. Through CMHS, mental health care providers, whether they be psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, or spiritual advisors, not only are learning how to better meet the mental health needs of people with HIV/AIDS, but also are learning when they need to make referrals to each other.

CMHS has partnered with five other Federal components to look at treatment adherence, health outcomes, and costs associated with delivering integrated mental health, substance abuse, and primary care services to people living with HIV/AIDS. This program focuses critical attention on the unique needs of people with HIV/AIDS who also have a diagnosable mental and substance abuse disorder. For instance, studies show that this population is at high risk for poor health outcomes. However, until this project, the effectiveness of using an integrated approach to improve health outcomes and treatment adherence, and to reduce costs, had yet to be assessed.

Perhaps most important. CMHS recognizes it isn't enough just to help people after they become infected with HIV. CMHS is dedicated to preventing the transmission of HIV. CMHS is especially concerned about combating the alarming rise of HIV infection among teens, young adults, and women. To that end, CMHS has developed a grant program designed to test best ways to help individuals in these populations change behaviors that put them at high risk for HIV infection.

Program Goals

To make an impact on curbing the nation's HIV/AIDS epidemic.
To disseminate knowledge about the mental health aspects of HIV/AIDS and the ethical issues of providing services to people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
To identify effective approaches for delivering mental health services to people living with HIV/AIDS and disseminate these findings to health care providers who serve the HIV/AIDS population.
To improve the health outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS who also have a mental and substance use disorder.